Charles Teves
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno slammed “some senators” who said they had no problem with people taking non-FDA approved COVID-19 vaccines.
Moreno told Unang Balita that these “illegal activities” should not be promoted by politicians.
“Walang presidente, walang mayor, walang senador na magsasabi na hindi puwede mag-FDA. Hindi po, may batas po,” Moreno said without dropping any name.
“Kaya ‘yung mga tolongges na ‘yan at saka ‘yung ilang senador diyan nagsasabi na hindi kailangan ng FDA, eh kailangan po. Huwag nating hihikayatin’ yung mga illegal,” he added.
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Senate President Tito Sotto III were among those who advocated for the use of the non-FDA approved vaccines.
“FDA-approved o hindi, buhay ko ito, wala akong pakialam diyan sa FDA kung i-approve nila o hindi yan basta buhay ko nakasalalay, I have to decide for my own life,” Dela Rosa said on Sunday.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong about that. There is no law that says you cannot take any medicine or vaccine that FDA has not approved,” Sotto told reporters in a text message last year.
Dela Rosa said that an approval by the FDA is only for “formality,” adding that the country where the vaccine comes from already cleared it.
Moreno promised to shame those who are involved in the alleged unauthorized vaccination in Binondo.
“Yang mga tolongges na ‘yan, ‘pag natyempuhan ko ‘yan, ihaharap ko sa inyo. Awa ng Diyos, wala eh. Inaabatan namin,” he said.
“Simula nang nabalitaan ko ‘yan ng first day, sa totoo lang, ako mismo nanggigigil eh. Unang-una panloloko ‘yan,” he added.
Mroeno also said that the vaccines which go for around P20,000 to P30,000 might not even be authentic.
