BY NOEL TALACAY and CHRISTIAN OINEZA
THE person behind the alleged illegal sale of COVID-19 vaccines and inoculation slots in Mandaluyong City yesterday surrendered to Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos.
Abalos and his wife, Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos, presented the suspect, identified as Kyle Bonifacio to the media and later on turned him over to the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for proper investigation.
In a press conference, chairman Abalos said the 25-year old Bonifacio was accompanied by his parents when he voluntarily surrendered on Wednesday afternoon.
Abalos said the MMDA and the local government of Mandaluyong City now consider the case solved and will leave the full investigation to the PNP and NBI for the filing of appropriate charges.
“We will see to it that justice is served,” he said, stressing that the “selling and buying of COVID-19 vaccines is illegal.”
Mayor Abalos said Bonifacio’s father, who is a barangay kagawad in Mandaluyong City, called her Tuesday night and volunteered to surrender his son.
“Kyle’s parents were surprised when authorities went to their house and started to investigate on their son. The father decided to surrender his son to us,” the mayor said.
Bonifacio denied the allegations against him and said he surrendered to clear his name.
“Gusto ko lang sabihin na ‘di talaga ako nagbenta. Ang resibo na ‘yun ay kusang bigay sa akin ng taong ‘yun (I just want to say that I am not selling the slots. The receipts were forwarded to me by that person),” Bonifacio said but did not elaborate on his statement.
“Confident ako na wala akong kasalanan dito. Lumutang ako sa publiko para matapos na ang isyung ito (I am confident that I did not do anything wrong. I decided to face the public to end this issue),” he also said, adding that his parents had nothing to do with his being linked to the illegal scheme.
Screenshots of vaccination slots allegedly being sold for at least P10,000 in Mandaluyong City went viral recently, where a buyer can choose what brand could be used for his or her inoculation.
Earlier in the day, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said he has directed the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to get in touch with the suspect in the alleged bakuna for sale scheme. — With Victor Reyes and Gerard Naval
