President Rodrigo Roa Duterte made renewed warning on Tuesday saying unscrupulous individuals illegally selling COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination slots will face the full force of the law.

“Again, this is a warning and you know how it is, when you are caught, you are arrested, and you are detained, and you have to answer the charges in court,” President Duterte said in issuing the warning during a public address.

The President said he was alarmed upon learning the illegal sale of COVID-19 vaccines by a health worker, who was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

It came a few weeks after reports of vaccination slots being peddled by some unscrupulous individuals in Mandaluyong City.

“This is very alarming. We condemn these acts, and we will not allow perpetrators to go unpunished,” he said. “I order every relevant authority to investigate this matter thoroughly and press charges accordingly.”

“Again, let me reiterate to everyone: The COVID-19 vaccines given by the government are not for sale. They are given to our poor people for free. Not only to the poor but to the rich so they opt to have vaccinations in the vaccination centers.”

A nurse and two others were apprehended last month by the agents of the NBI for allegedly selling 300 doses of Sinovac vaccine for P1 million. The health worker is employed at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center in Manila.

According to the NBI, the suspects were part of a group selling COVID-19 jabs to the public especially to Chinese workers. PND