IBP: People behind PSG vaccination may be liable for violating FDA law

The people who decided to administer an unregistered COVID-19 vaccine to members of the Presidential Security Group may be held liable for violating the Food and Drug Administration law, the president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said Wednesday.

IBP president Domingo Egon Cayosa also said that officials cannot conceal the source of the vaccine.

“Hindi rin pwedeng hindi niya sabihin kung saan nanggaling ito sapagkat pag iniimbestigahan ka na sa isang anomaly o isang paglabag sa existing na batas, kinakailangan sabihin niya yung totoo,” Cayosa said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

The Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 prohibits the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, and distribution, among others, of “any health product that is adulterated, unregistered or misbranded.”

Those convicted of the crime will be sentenced to one to 10 years of imprisonment or a fine of P50,000 to P500,000, according to the law.

President Rodrigo Duterte himself said some Filipino soldiers got the vaccine — even though the state medicine regulator has not yet approved any COVID-19 vaccine for use in the country.

Officials have refused to disclose the source of the vaccine. Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza said the medical products were “smuggled” into the country.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque had said the shots were donated.

But even if they were, the vaccines should still need to be registered, according to the FDA.

Cayosa said the FDA may seek help from investigating bodies like the National Bureau of Investigation and the police Criminal and Investigation Detection Group.

He stressed the need for transparency.

“Hindi ho pwedeng after one press conference, tama na, at kanya-kanyang gawa na naman, hindi ho, importante that we have rationality, transparency, at sundin yung batas,” he said.  (GMA News)