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Friday, March 29, 2024

Probe smuggled vaccine

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Probe smuggled vaccine"Some people need to be held accountable for this."

 

 

Some lucky individuals—mostly members of the Presidential Security Group, members of the Cabinet and other VIPs, as well as some Chinese expatriates—got the Sinovac vaccine from China as early as September and October last year. Questions remain unanswered.

That the doses from Sinovac, a Chinese government pharmaceutical firm, came into the country surreptitiously has been verified. But Santa Banana, just who was behind it and how it was administered to the favored few remains a mystery!

The Constitution is very clear that Congress should investigate matters such as this in aid of legislation. If this is so, why hasn’t the Senate or the House of Representatives investigated it?

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My gulay, even civic leader Teresita Ang See knew about it. A columnist of another newspaper also said he had been inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine, claiming that there was no conflict of interest because he was a special envoy to China.

It would seem that some people believe they are above the law. Meanwhile, the deafening silence of Congress, especially the Senate, is deafening. I can only recall what President Duterte said when Senate President Tito Sotto sought an investigation. He said “something nasty” would happen if the senators dared investigate.

And then, nothing more was heard about the matter.

It is very clear that the law creating the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that food and drugs not authorized for use are illegal. What was amusing was that since the PSG was involved, the FDA gave its legal authority by branding it as “compassionate use authorization.”

I wanted to laugh at the copout, but the smuggling of those vaccines is not funny at all.

Santa Banana, that those vaccines were smuggled into the country and then given to a favored few was bad enough. Worse, what stays with me is the thought that indeed there are people who believe they are entitled to such privileges. What a dangerous mindset!

What is disturbing is that insiders at Customs say the vaccines did not even pass the bureau and were instead brought into the country through diplomatic order. This means that the VIPs used their diplomatic privileges to gain an advantage.

We should find out who smuggled those vaccines and hold them accountable.

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Health experts and researchers predict that at the rate COVID-19 pandemic cases are surging nationwide, particularly in Metro Manila, it may come to a point that there will be 11,000 new cases daily.

This is why some are wondering if it would be good to impose Enhanced Community Quarantine again, especially in areas considered hotspots. The debates center on how this would affect the economy, just as what happened last year when we saw a contraction and massive loss of jobs.

Santa Banana, hospitals are nearing full capacities for COVID cases, and there are long lines for those who cannot be admitted. President Duterte says that he will not yet reimpose ECQ in Metro Manila. My gualy, but when, giving the alarming rate of transmission?

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