The progressive Makabayan bloc still wants the House to probe the Presidential Security Group (PSG) for using smuggled coronavirus vaccines despite President Rodrigo Duterte barring his security aides from divulging information on the matter.

On Tuesday, January 5, the following Makabayan lawmakers filed House Resolution (HR) No. 1451 calling on the committees on health as well as good government and public accountability to investigate what they described as the “VIP vaccination” of PSG personnel:

• Bayan Muna Representatives Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, and Eufemia Cullamaat
• ACT Teachers Representative France Castro
• Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene Brosas
• Kabataan Representative Sarah Elago

In HR 1451, the opposition legislators said the PSG blatantly violated several laws and their oath of office when they agreed to be immunized with a COVID-19 vaccine that was smuggled into the country.

“The VIP vaccination of PSG is therefore a blatant violation of multiple laws and the oath to public office to uphold and defend the Constitution and to obey the laws, which includes uniformed personnel, binds the PSG and the Office of the President to uphold the laws against unregistered drugs, smuggling, and prioritizing personal interest above their own,” the Makabayaan bloc said.

They argued that the PSG’s oath of office binds their highest fealty to the Constitution, the country’s laws, and the Filipinos, but “not to a specific person such as the President.”

“Much like what happened with the VIP COVID-19 testing, the VIP vaccination exposes the lack of a clear, fair, and sound plan on mass vaccination in particular, and on the control and management of the pandemic in general,” Makabayan said. 

Even before the filing of HR 1451, the Senate was already set to conduct its own investigation into the government’s plan – or the lack of it – for the national COVID-19 vaccination program. 

No less than Duterte himself earlier revealed that certain members of his Cabinet and close-in security have already been immunized with an unregistered COVID-19 vaccine.

Government officials have, so far, failed to properly explain how the unregulated immunization efforts took place.

After mounting public criticism of the PSG, however, Duterte warned Congress of a potential “crisis” should they compel his security detail to divulge details about their COVID-19 vaccination.

This is a contradiction of an earlier statement of Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque, who said the PSG would face any investigation, legal case, or punishment arising from their use of an unregistered vaccine. 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has since stopped its own probe into the PSG after Duterte’s intervention. – Rappler.com