Members of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s security detail ‘smuggled’ an unauthorized COVID-19 vaccine into the country and self-administered it, a top defense official said Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said members of the Presidential Security Group obtained the vaccine without the government’s consent or his knowledge.
When asked if the vaccine was smuggled into the province, Lorenzana said: “Yes, smuggled because they were not authorized, only the government can give permission.”
No vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Lorenzana said the unit should “explain because they have violated FDA rules,” but continued to downplay the move.
“It’s justified… it will protect them from getting infected and at the same time they can protect the president,” said Lorenzana.
PSG Chief Brigadier General Jesus Durante also defended the guards by using the unauthorized vaccine as a ‘good faith’ decision.
Durante said the unit could not wait for a coronavirus vaccine approval.
The president was not informed of the episode until afterwards, Durante said.
It is unclear how the vaccine was obtained or which one was used.
Health Minister Francisco Duque said the FDA is investigating.
With pole wires