By Deighton Acuin
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| Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (PHOTO: Defense PH) |
COVID-19 vaccines that are used to vaccinate members of
Presidential Security Group (PSG) were smuggled since it has no approval from
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said
Wednesday.
In a ceremony marking the death anniversary of Dr. Jose
Rizal at Manila, Lorenzana said the PSG should provide an explanation even it
was meant for protecting President Rodrigo Duterte.
'Yes, smuggled kasi hindi authorized. Only the government
can authorize diyan," Lorenzana told reporters, according to GMA News reporter
Bam Alegre.
However, Lorenzana said there is no security breach on PSG's
inoculation, adding the good intentions of the security group.
He said that he only knew the information about the
vaccination just after the personnel got the vaccine shots. However, he is not
privy with the vaccine sources.
PSG Chief Jesus Durante earlier confirmed that his unit got
the vaccines for free, but he did not
mentioned where the vaccines came from.
Durante said the PSG did its own research as regards which
vaccine to acquire for the close-in security personnel of the President.
The defense secretary underscored the importance of FDA
policies on following strict measures, noting that vaccines, health products,
and even food products must undergo safety evaluation before consumption.
He added the FDA must hasten its vaccine approvals in the
Philippines.
"Ang dapat gawin ng FDA, madaliin pag-approve para
makapag-import na legitimate importers and government kasi nagva-vaccine na sa
ibang lugar. FDA should fast-track," Lorenzana said.
The FDA has yet to approve any COVID-19 vaccine in the
country. It noted that donated vaccines still require clearances, noting that
the PSG's procurement of vaccines was a breach of the regulatory process.
FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said that as far as the
agency is concerned, procured or donated vaccines and related health products
should undergo registration process
before its distribution.
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