Makabayan solons formalize call for probe on PSG vaccinations

The House Makabayan Bloc formalized their call for an investigation into the "VIP" vaccination of members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) using an unauthorized and unregistered COVID-19 vaccine.

The six-member bloc on Tuesday filed House Resolution 1451 urging the House Committees on Health and on Good Government and Public Accountability to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the early COVID-19 vaccination of PSG members.

This, even as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to approve registration for any of the vaccines against the novel coronavirus.

They initially announced their intention to call for an investigation into the issue in a virtual press conference last week.

In the resolution, the Makabayan Bloc pointed out that according to the vaccination plan released by the Department of Health, the military and uniformed personnel ranked fifth among the priority recipients, after frontline workers, employees of select government offices, indigent senior citizens, and other seniors and indigents.

"The VIP vaccination of PSG is therefore a blatant violation of multiple laws and the oath to public office to uphold and defend the Constitution and to obey the laws, which includes uniformed personnel, binds the PSG and the Office of the President to uphold the laws against unregistered drugs, smuggling, and prioritizing personal interest above their own," their resolution read.

"Their oaths of office likewise binds them to accord the highest fealty and service to the Constitution, our laws, and the Filipino people—not to a specific person such as the President," it added.

At the same time, the lawmakers noted the "brewing corruption" in the procurement of the vaccines and the supposed opportunity for kickbacks from the pharmaceutical companies in relation to the VIP vaccination.

"Even as mass vaccination and the procurement of safe and effective vaccines for it are still up in the air, here comes select officials and their irresponsible and brazen display of ‘panlalamang’ at the expense of the taxpayers and the people," their resolution read.

"Much like what happened with the VIP COVID testing, the VIP vaccination exposes the lack of a clear, fair, and sound plan on mass vaccination in particular, and on the control and management of the pandemic in general," it added.

Amid the controversy on the VIP vaccination, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon had suggested that PSG commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III be summoned in the January 11 Senate hearing on the COVID-19 vaccine roll out to shed light on the issue.

But President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night said he would order the PSG to keep silent on the issue should its officials be called to a Senate inquiry.

Duterte's order also prompted the Armed Forces of the Philippines to call off its fact-finding investigation on the controversy.

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas, a member of the Makabayan Bloc, slammed Duterte for refusing to let the PSG testify over the VIP vaccination issue.

"Maraming dapat ipaliwanag ang Pangulo kaugnay ng vaccine smuggling at VIP na pagbakuna sa kanyang PSG. Bakit takot na takot siyang malantad ang katotohan kung paano at saan nanggaling ang bakuna?" Brosas said.

"What is becoming clear is that Duterte himself is a coddler and protector of vaccine smugglers in our country. It is not surprising then that the Palace merely shrugged off the report that around 100,000 Chinese nationals in our country, mostly POGO workers, have already been vaccinated ahead of the official vaccine rollout," she added. — DVM, GMA News