2 rapped for vax slot for sale scheme
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Wednesday announced the filing of several criminal charges against two men found to be involved in a vaccine/vaccination’ ‘slot for sale racket’ which rocked the country weeks ago.
Charged before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office last Monday for estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code and violation of Section 21-H of Republic Act 11032 or the Anti-Red Tape Law of 2007 and Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 were Cyle Cedric Soriano Bonifacio and Melvin Polo Gutierrez, the top cop said.
“Noong sumuko itong si Bonifacio sa atin at nagbigay ng pahayag, pinangalanan niya si Gutierrez, isang fire at barangay volunteer, na umano’y tumulong sa kanya na makakuha ng vaccination slot sa Mandaluyong City,” Gen. Eleazar explained.
“Ang pahayag pa ni Bonifacio, isang beses lang niya nagawa ang mamagitan para sa pagkuha ng vaccination slot at ang P12,000 na binigay sa kanya, through online bank transfer, ay reward daw,’ he added.
Gen. Eleazar said that their investigation showed that it appears that after receiving the ‘reward money,’ Bonifacio apparently got the idea to offer vaccination slots for cash.
The suspect first tried to offer the service to his former high school classmate who rejected his sales pitch and made the public aware of Bonifacio’s illegal activity, the PNP chief said.
Gen. Eleazar said that there may be other still involved in the scheme but gave the public assurance that the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group have not stopped their probe on the matter.
“Magsilbing babala sana sa ibang magtatangkang dayain ang sistema ng ating national vaccination program ang ating pagsasampa ng kaso laban kay Bonifacio at Gutierrez,” he said.
He also reminded the public that vaccination is offered for free by the different Local Government Units and that all they needed to do is to register and wait for their schedule to get the jab.
“Wala po tayong dapat na ilabas na pera para sa pagpapabakuna,” the PNP chief stressed.
