The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has stepped into the investigation of the alleged selling of Covid-19 jabs and vaccination slots, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed Monday.
The justice secretary ordered NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor last Friday with its cybercrime division to handle the probe as requested by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Benhur Abalos.
“The full extent of the law will be applied here,” Abalos said during an online briefing, adding that those involved could be held liable for estafa, direct bribery, and violation of the Bayanihan Law.
In a separate probe, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported earlier that it had already identified some personalities linked to the conspiracy.
Last week, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar tasked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to lead the investigation into the alleged illegal sale of vaccines after screenshots of the supposed “under the table” trade went viral on social media.
The screenshots showed that some individuals can obtain vaccination slots in some local government units for P8,000 to P12,000. The cities of Mandaluyong and San Juan were mentioned in the messages.
The mayors of both cities said it is fraud, noting the vaccines are given for free. Ronald Espartinez