Six members of two families, including a pastor, were caught with fake COVID-19 vaccination cards on Thursday, February 17, Em Ang, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) executive director, said.
The pastor, his wife and child went to an EOC help desk at the third floor of SM City to ask for vaccination certificates needed for travel to China, she said.
However, their names could not be found in the EOC data base of persons vaccinated. The vaccinator whose name was listed on the cards was then asked for help and it was discovered that they were fakes, Ang said.
They then admitted that they bought the cards for P700 each because they do not believe in vaccination, she added.
They needed the vaccination certificates because the pastor is a teacher in China and has to travel, she added.
Another family of three also went to the help desk for vaccination certificates and it was discovered that the vaccination cards they presented were also fake, Ang said.
They admitted that they were not vaccinated but had purchased the vaccination cards for P1,000 each.
They were assured by a barangay nurse vaccinator that although they were not vaccinated, data that they were would be uploaded into the EOC data base, Ang said.
Ang said they have information on the sources of the fake vaccinations cards of the two families and the name of the alleged nurse, and have asked the police to investigate the matter.
Police blotter reports on the six fake vaccination cards have been made for the filing of necessary charges, she said.
They could face charges for falsification of public documents and for violation of Republic Act 11332, an act providing policies and prescribing procedures on surveillance and response to notifiable diseases, Ang added.
Jail time and fines await those falsifying public documents, she said.*