PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar ordered the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to lead their probe into the alleged “under the table” sale of COVID-19 vaccines procured by the government.

“Tutugisin natin para panagutin sa batas ang mga pasimuno at gumagawa ng ganitong modus. As per directive of our SILG Eduardo Año, I have ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to identify and arrest the person or persons behind these scams. Inatasan din natin ang CIDG na makipag-ugnayan sa ating mga LGUs,” said the top cop.

Gen. Eleazar said the PNP-CIDG headed by Major Gen. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro is also going after all individuals involved in the illegal online sale of COVID-19 test kits and other supposed medicines to cure the virus.

“Iligal po ang pagbebenta ng COVID vaccine na nagawaran lamang ng Emergency Use Authorization o EUA ng ating Food and Drug Administration. Nananatiling bawal ang pagbebenta ng mga bakuna kontra COVID dito sa atin, ayon na rin sa advisory ng FDA at ng National Task Force against COVID-19,” he said.

Sec. Año ordered the investigation after social media posts went viral saying vaccine slots in different LGUs were being sold by unscrupulous persons who set prices depending on the COVID-19 vaccine brand.

The PNP chief said the FDA has not approved the marketing or sale of any COVID-19 vaccine which makes selling or any kind of this activity illegal.

Citing initial information received by the PNP, Gen. Eleazar said the vaccination slots are being offered in various areas from P10,000 to P15,000 depending on the vaccine brand.

“Merong espesyal na lugar sa impiyerno ang mga ganitong uri ng tao pero ngayon pa lang, gagawin natin ang lahat para mapanagot sila sa kalokohang ito,” he said.

“Ang mga bakuna ay donasyon at binili ng ating pamahalaan para ibigay ng libre sa ating mga kababayan. Ibayong hirap ang pinag-daanan natin para makakuha tayo ng bakuna laban sa COVID kaya hindi katanggap-tanggap na pagkakitaan ito,” he added.

Gen. Eleazar advised the public that they do not have to pay any single centavo for the vaccination, adding that all they have to do is to have themselves registered and wait for their turn to be vaccinated because there is a priority list that is being followed by the national government.

Vaccine czar Scretary Carlito Galvez earlier said that the vaccination of essential workers and indigent Filipinos is expected to start by next month.

The PNP chief also urged the public to immediately report to authorities anyone selling COVID-19 vaccines or vaccination slots.

He said any information or concern may be relayed to the PNP through its “E-Sumbong “ complaint monitoring and referral system.