PASAY CITY -- Senator Win Gatchalian urged concerned authorities to consider imposing stiffer penalties to guard against those who will misuse or produce fake unified vaccination certificates, saying that such fraudulent acts could endanger public safety.
“Hindi maiiwasan na baka may magsamantala kaya dapat ngayon pa lang ay pinag-iisipan na kung ano ang mga maaaring posibleng hakbang kung gagamiting kasangkapan sa mali o iligal na gawain ang unified vaccination certificate,” Gatchalian said.
“Dapat maglabas na ng stiffer penalties laban sa mga namemeke ng mga vaccination cards o gagawa ng mga bogus na vaccination cards. Marami tayong OFWs na aalis at babalik sa kanilang trabaho sa abroad. Baka merong mga sindikato na mang- abuso o magsamantalang gumawa ng fake vaccination cards for a fee. Dapat mahuli sila, parusahan natin dahil kawawa naman ‘yung OFWs na mabibiktima,” he added.
Gatchalian’s call is in anticipation of the possibility of the unified vaccination certificates, serving as “vaccine passports” of fully vaccinated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) due to leave for work abroad, being tampered with or manipulated by some unscrupulous individuals for a fee.
“It can jeopardize public health and put to waste all our efforts in containing the virus especially if fake ones end up in the hands of unvaccinated individuals,” Gatchalian emphasized.
While Republic Act No. 11525, otherwise known as the “COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021”, that was signed into law last February 26 provides for penalties based on the Revised Penal Code on the falsification of a vaccine card, most LGUs impose certain sets of penalties based on ordinances they have so far issued.
In Valenzuela City, an ordinance was recently passed against the illegal use, unauthorized printing, copying and issuance of its Valenzuela City Vaccination (VCVax) passport or vaccination card. Violators will be meted with fines ranging from P1,000 to P5,000 depending on the number of offenses as well as criminal charges. The Valenzuela City Ordinance No. 925 likewise prohibits residents from submitting false information to be printed on VCVax.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is set to launch the pilot test of the country’s portal for issuing COVID-19 unified vaccination certificate, VaxCertPH on September 1, to be digitally signed by the Department of Health (DOH) to fully-inoculated Filipinos. (OSWG)
