PNP backs sanctions vs. unauthorized Covid-19 inoculations

MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday supported Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos’ call on the National Capital Region mayors to come up with ordinances that will impose sanctions on persons who are getting booster shots using Covid-19 vaccines procured by the national government.

“Huwag tayong maging gahaman sa bakuna. Marami pa sa atin ang hindi nababakunahan, maski first dose, dahil na din sa limitadong suplay na nakararating sa bansa (Let us not be greedy for the vaccine. Many of us are still not vaccinated, even the first dose, because of the limited supply reaching the country),” Eleazar said in a statement.

He added that the experts have yet to make recommendations on whether booster shots are safe and effective against more contagious variants of Covid-19.

Eleazar urged the public to think of the welfare of others who have not yet received even their first dose of vaccine due to limited supply of Covid-19 jabs.

“Sa mga kumpleto na sa bakuna, huwag na nating agawan pa ang mga kababayan natin na kailangan din naman ng proteksyon. Ito ay para na din sa kaligtasan ng lahat dahil hindi tayo sigurado kung may masamang epekto sa katawan ang booster shots lalo na kung iba-ibang brands ang naiturok sa atin (For those who are fully vaccinated, let’s not compete with others who also need protection. This is also for everyone’s safety because we are not sure if booster shots have a bad effect on the body, especially if these brands are different from the brand that had been earlier used on us),” he said.

In Quezon City, two fully vaccinated persons were charged for violating an ordinance prohibiting Covid-19 vaccination fraud after getting booster shots using the government-provided vaccines.

Meanwhile, Eleazar urged the public to keep on reporting the quarantine violations in their areas.

“I am urging the public to report or provide any information to the police if they have information on violations of quarantine protocols,” he said, urging them to take photo or video as evidence.

He said the people can use different platforms including the PNP’s E-Sumbong to report the violators of quarantine protocols.

Eleazar made the call after more than 40 individuals were apprehended in Pasig City for attending a birthday party. The venue was ordered closed by the Pasig City government.

“Iniimbestigahan na din natin ang insidenteng ito katulong ang LGU (We are also investigating this incident with the LGU’s (local government unit) assistance,” he said.

He reminded police personnel to be on the lookout for mass gatherings in their areas of responsibility as they could become super spreader events.

Eleazar also assured that the children, who violate quarantine protocols, are not subjected to arrest.

This, after the Commission on Human Rights said children who violate quarantine protocols should not be arrested and should instead be given the proper intervention and brought back to their parents.

He said the police would immediately talk to the parents if their children committed violations, and to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for proper handling of the kids who commit quarantine protocols.

Eleazar assured that the PNP is fully aware of the rights of children.

“We assure the CHR and the public that it falls within our mandate to care for and protect our children. We also are fully aware of the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 including its amendments,” Eleazar said.