THE PNP yesterday said it has filed criminal charges against three persons for selling vaccinations slots in Mandaluyong City.
Cyle Cedric Soriano Bonifacio, 22; Melvin Polo Gutierrez, 25; and Nina Ellaine Dizon-Cabrera were charged with estafa, violation of the Anti-Red Tape Law of 2007, and violation of the Anti-Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 before the City Prosecutors’ Office last Monday, the PNP said.
Bonifacio, formerly identified as Kyle Bonifacio, surrendered to Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos on May 26 after reports came out that vaccination slots were being offered for a fee. He initially denied involvement in the illegal activity but PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Bonifacio later pointed to Gutierrez as the one who made arrangements for vaccination slots because he has contacts in Mandaluyong City where he works as a fire and barangay volunteer.
“Ang pahayag pa ni Bonifacio, isang beses lang niya nagawa ang mamagitan para sa pagkuha ng vaccination slot at ang P12,000 na binigay sa kanya, through online bank transfer, ay reward daw (Bonifacio said that he was given P12,000 as a reward through online bank transfer, for getting a vaccination slot),” Eleazar said.
He said it was then that Bonifacio got the idea to offer the vaccination slot for a fee.
Cabrera was charged after the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group found out that she also offered 50 to 100 vaccination slots in Mandaluyong City.
The scam was discovered after a netizen last month posted on Twitter a screenshot of a supposed conversation between two persons about a transaction for COVID-19 vaccines in exchange for cash, in Mandaluyong and San Juan cities.
The vaccines and vaccines slots are reportedly being sold in the two cities for P8,000 to P12,000, depending on the vaccine brand.
A similar scheme was reported in Parañaque City where vaccines and slots are also being sold.
