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AFP chief orders ‘thorough investigation’ into COVID-19 vaccination of PSG

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Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News

(UPDATE) Asked what action the Armed Forces of the Philippines would take — if any — on personnel involved in the unauthorized vaccination of an unregistered COVID-19 vaccine, the AFP announced on Thursday that it would launch an investigation on the matter.This came 5 days after President Rodrigo Duterte revealed that soldiers have already been vaccinated, and the Presidential Security Group announced its members took the vaccines to protect the President.“General Gilbert Gapay has ordered the conduct of a through investigation on the factual circumstances surrounding this incident,” said the statement, referring to the Armed Forces Chief of Staff.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/30/20/covid-19-vaccines-used-by-psg-were-smuggled-says-defense-chief">READ: COVID-19 vaccines used by PSG were &#x27;smuggled&#x27;, says defense chief</a></li></ul>In the government’s vaccination priority list, the military is only the fifth recipient, after frontline health workers, senior citizens, and poor communities.Moreover, receiving an unlicensed vaccine could well be a violation of the law.Republic Act 9711 states that “the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising, or sponsorship of any health product that is adulterated, unregistered or misbranded” is prohibited, and violators may face anywhere from 1 to 10 years in jail.Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana himself has described the vaccines as “smuggled.”Prior to announcing the launch of an investigation, the AFP defended the PSG’s position on the matter several times, and has maintained the same stance.“We stand by the previous statement of PSG Commander (Brig. Gen.) Jesus Durante that the President’s close-in security had themselves inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine to greatly reduce the possibility of being the source and carrier of this virus and consequently infect the President, whose good health and well-being are the PSG&#x27;s primordial concern,” it said.Government to this day has remained mum about the source of the vaccine. In describing the vaccination, Duterte named SinoPharm, a vaccine developed by a state-owned pharmaceutical company in China.The AFP has distanced the AFP chief from the issue, saying: “We maintain our previous declaration that the Chief-of-Staff of the AFP was not part of or privy about the circumstances involving the procurement of these vaccines, its source, and the administration thereof to PSG troopers.”Sinopharm does not have regulatory approval yet to distribute or administer vaccines in the Philippines.Dr. Tony Leachon, former adviser of the government&#x27;s pandemic task force, cited that it could set a bad precedent in the government&#x27;s massive vaccination program next year.&quot;First, it&#x27;s a violation of FDA (Food and Drug Administration) rules in terms of trying to bring in unregistered products even as donation,&quot; said Leachon.&quot;No. 2, it could actually sabotage the national vaccination program considering there&#x27;s a grand plan for this one,&quot; he told ANC&#x27;s &quot;Matters of Fact.&quot; <figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hTF59bXxZpk?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the AFP understood the need to keep Duterte safe from COVID-19 by having themselves injected with the vaccine.

AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the AFP understood the need to keep Duterte safe from COVID-19 by having themselves injected with the vaccine.

AFP chief orders ‘thorough investigation’ into COVID-19 vaccination of PSG

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AFP chief orders ‘thorough investigation’ into COVID-19 vaccination of PSG

Chiara Zambrano,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 31, 2020 06:14 PM PHT

|

Updated December 31, 2020 07:43 PM PHT

Read More:

AFP

Presidential Security Group

COVID-19

SinoPharm

PSG

COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic vaccine

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