A suspect in the COVID-19 vaccination slot-for-sale scheme surrendered to the authorities in Mandaluyong City.
On Wednesday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. and his wife Mayor Carmencita Abalos presented the 22-year-old suspect Kyle Bonifacio to members of the media.
Abalos said Bonifacio, accompanied by his parents, voluntarily surrendered to them.
The suspect was turned over to the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation for investigation.
Mayor Abalos said Bonifacio’s father, a barangay councilor in Mandaluyong, called her up Tuesday night and volunteered to surrender his son.
“Kyle's parents were surprised when authorities went to their house and started to investigate their son. The father decided to surrender his son to us,” said Mayor Abalos.
Chairman Abalos said they consider the case solved and will leave the full investigation to the PNP and the NBI for the appropriate filing of charges.
“We will see to it that justice is served,” said the MMDA chief, who warned the public that selling and buying the government-procured COVID-19 vaccines is illegal and that anyone caught doing it would face jail time.
“There’s one thing I will promise you: I promise you that these persons will really be charged and go to jail. We’re very serious about this," he told ANC's Hea start.
Abalos also urged the public to report incidents of selling of vaccine slots to the authorities.
“Individuals who offer vaccine slots for a fee and those who will buy the vaccine slots may be charged,” he said.
The Abalos couple earlier sought the assistance of the NBI.
The NBI Cybercrime Division formed a 50-man team to probe the incident. The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will also help in the investigation.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday invoked his subpoena power in running after those behind the alleged sale of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines and vaccination slots.
“At least one person has been identified by the PNP as involved in this activity so it would be better for him to come to my office and shed light on this issue. Don't play hide and seek with our police force,” Eleazar said in a video posted on social media.
Eleazar earlier tasked the CIDG and the Anti-Cybercrime Group to look into the allegations on the sale of vaccines and vaccination slots circulating on social media.
He said the suspect directly offered a vaccine slot to a high school friend through a social media messaging app.
The suspect has reportedly gone into hiding and has already deactivated all his social media accounts, Eleazar said.
In Pasay, Mayor Imelda Rubiano said she asked members of the city council to create an ordinance to penalize individuals engaged in such illegal activities.
"This kind of activity is illegal and anyone who commits such an act should be given appropriate punishment," she said.
The scheme was also reported in the cities of San Juan and Paranaque.
Metro Manila mayors were set to meet Wednesday night to discuss a uniform ordinance against people who sell COVID-19 vaccines or vaccination slots.
Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, who chairs the Metro Manila Council (MMC), said this is in response to Malacañang's call for local government units (LGUs) to come up with such an ordinance.
Manila, under Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, has already issued an ordinance banning the sale, distribution or administration of COVID-19 vaccines for gain, income or profit.
Violators will be fined P5,000, jail time not exceeding six months, and revocation of business license.
They will also be banned from doing business in Manila.