President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday assured Filipinos that he will begin his crackdown on “fake” swab tests and unauthorized purchase of COVID-19 vaccines with the help of state forces.
Duterte delivered a speech for the inauguration of Dumaguete City’s Port Operations Building, touching on the proliferation of fake COVID-19 test kits and vaccines.
“I have to talk to the medical [experts], kasi hindi ko malaman if there is something that is really stupid going around. Kasi ‘yung iba magpa-swab ka, positive ka, but just to confirm, people go to another swabbing station at magpa-swab, negative,” Duterte said.
Duterte stressed that individuals or groups behind fraudulent testing activities will be arrested, as well as those who would illegally purchase COVID-19 vaccines for their own use.
“I have to order the police and military to find out and arrest these people at saka iyang nagpapabili ng bakuna,” Duterte said.
Currently, the government is the only body able to purchase coronavirus vaccines, but the private sector can do so through tripartite agreements with the state and the pharmaceutical company.
