Ex-special envoy to China could also be included in NBI probe on illegal COVID vaccines
RAMON T. Tulfo, a former special envoy to China, could be included in the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) ongoing probe on the smuggling and administration of China-made uncertified coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra told reporters on Wednesday that he is leaving it up to the NBI to make the decision. “I have directed the NBI to submit a progress report on the above investigation ASAP (as soon as possible),” Mr. Guevarra said. The Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health had already confirmed the inclusion of Mr. Tulfo in their respective investigations on the matter. Mr. Tulfo publicly admitted to having knowledge on the alleged smuggling of Sinopharm vaccines from China, and had himself injected with one dose last year as he wanted to be the local distributor of the vaccine brand. The China state-owned Sinopharm has yet to apply for emergency use of its vaccines in the Philippines. The Presidential Security Group also confirmed earlier that they inoculated their members with unregistered COVID-19 vaccines to better protect President Rodrigo R. Duterte from getting infected with the virus. —