Cops probe vaccine slot for sale ‘racket’

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is now investigating the alleged illegal sale of COVID-19 vaccine and inoculation slots.

Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, Iloilo City police chief, said they have already disseminated to all personnel manning the different vaccination centers in the metropolis to be on watch against individuals who offer vaccination slots for a fee.

“We also deployed intelligence operatives in these areas. Once we could prove the existence of this modus operandi and identify the culprits, we would conduct an entrapment operation,” he said.

The alleged sale of vaccination slots came to fore after Mayor Jerry Treñas made public that he got a text message from one of his friends.

The message reads, “Mayor good morning. Yesterday, I accompanied a relative to San Agustin for vaccination. May nagsapak sa akon. Siguro kilala ya ko pero indi ko siya kilala siguro basi kay may mask kag face shield.”

“While waiting outside gin-approach niya ko kag namangkot kung may ticket ako for vaccination, kay kung wala, kag gusto ko, pwede siya kuno ka provide in exchange for P3,000.00”

Treñas said he already gave instructions to the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate on this matter.

He would also request the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to strictly monitor the vaccination centers.

“Criminal cases will be filed to anyone involved if we find out,” he said.

Apart from information Treñas relayed, Garbanzos said they have not heard of any other case of “vaccination slots for sale” scheme.

“Maybe, some unscrupulous individuals would like to test the waters. But our city government and our other authorities have been constantly reminding the people that vaccination is free,” he said.

Those who went to vaccination centers have already been given vaccination tickets indicating their date and time of inoculation.

On Thursday, Iloilo City vaccinated 7,443 individuals in four centers – Ateneo de Iloilo, Iloilo Convention Center, Central Philippine University, and University of San Agustin.

It can be noted that the “vaccine slot for sale” scheme was first reported in the National Capital Region.

In fact, the PNP has filed charges against three persons involved in the alleged sale of vaccine slots.

They were charged for estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code, violation of Section 21-H (fixing and/or collusion with fixers) of Republic Act 11032 or the Anti-Red Tape Law of 2007 and Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.