Police to track, arrest smugglers of illegal Covid-19 vaccine

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL  Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas on Thursday ordered police to help health authorities in tracking down and arresting smugglers of illegal coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines possibly being sold in the black market.  

Sinas said in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), the National Task Force Against Covid-19, and the Food and Drug Administration, police teams will monitor black market activities for counterfeit and unauthorized Covid-19 vaccines that may have entered the country.

“I have taken to task the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Intelligence Group, and other National Operational Support Units to organize operating teams that will launch operations to prevent the entry, distribution, and sale of Covid-9 vaccines without proper authorization from the concerned government agencies,” Sinas said in a statement Thursday.

The country has not yet approved a coronavirus vaccine for general use. The FDA earlier warned the public against counterfeit vaccines as authentic Covid-19 vaccines could be accessed only through the national vaccination program.

While there are no reported fake Covid-19 vaccines in the country yet, the FDA is coordinating with the PNP, the Bureau of Customs, and the National Bureau of Investigation to prevent the entry of counterfeit vaccines.

“The PNP will strictly implement this official policy, and take appropriate police action in accordance with existing laws,” Sinas said.

Meantime, Sinas said the PNP vaccination plan “Caduceus” is now in the pre-implementation phase, which involves threat assessment, contingency planning, and simulation exercises in pilot areas, as well as the organization of the Medical Reserve Forces, inter-agency coordination, and operational planning by police regional offices.

Under the plan, regional offices are tasked to provide security in the transport of vaccine shipments from storage hubs to vaccination centers.

They are also tasked to establish police assistance desks in vaccination centers to prevent criminal elements and threat groups. (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)