CALOOCAN CITY, (PIA) -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar tasked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to track down Illegal vendors of COVID-19 vaccines.

Eleazar said that the CIDG should work closely with other concerned police units in putting a stop to the illegal activity which endangers the public.

The PNP Chief pointed out that the recent arrest by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of COVID-19 vaccine sellers shows that the confiscated vaccines were smuggled into the country and were fake.

“Kung totoong smuggled ang mga nabebentang bakuna, aalamin natin ang source nito at kung sino ang nasa likod ng pagpupuslit ng mga ito,” PGen Eleazar said.

“We are constantly coordinating with the Food and Drugs Administration and the Department of Health regarding our operations against the illegal sale of vaccines,” he assured and added that the FDA has not approved the commercial sale or distribution of any COVID-19 vaccine.

All brands of COVID-19 jabs being administered under the National Vaccination Program were only granted Emergency Use Authorization or EUA.

“Paalala lang natin sa publiko na mapanganib iturok ang mga smuggled na bakuna dahil lumalabas na peke ang mga ito. Imbes na makakuha tayo ng immunity mula sa sakit ay lalong maging dahilan ito ng ating kapahamakan,” PGen Eleazar said.

He reiterated that the COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out under the National Vaccination Program are absolutely free and there was no need for the public to spend money to avail of them.

The PNP Chief urged the public, “Huwag po tayo mag-apura at maghintay lang tayo ng bakunang magmumula sa mga LGUs o sa ilang mga otorisadong kumpanya para garantisadong tunay at mabisa kontra COVID-19.” (PNP/PIA-NCR)