Chinese held for selling vax slots

MANILA, Philippines — Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have arrested a Chinese man for allegedly selling COVID-19 vaccination slots in Manila.

Xiao Shi, also known as Feng Wang Qun, was apprehended in a sting launched by the NBI Anti-Fraud Division on Sept. 9, NBI officer-in-charge Director Eric Distor said yesterday.

Distor said Xiao was nabbed after receiving an additional P5,000 payment from the victim at the barangay hall in Binondo.

Distor said the NBI acted on an information from the victim, who paid Xiao P18,000 after the suspect introduced himself as a member of the city government’s vaccination team.

The suspect duped the victim into thinking that he had connections with the officials of Barangay 239 in Binondo to vaccinate Chinese citizens in Manila, Distor said.

The NBI recovered fake vaccination cards from the suspect.

Distor said they would check if Xiao has cohorts in the city government or at the barangay hall.

Charges of estafa, direct assault and disobedience will be filed against the suspect, the NBI said.

Quiapo Church reopens

Meanwhile, the Quiapo Church in Manila reopened yesterday during the first day of implementation of COVID-19 Alert Level 4 in the National Capital Region.

Only fully vaccinated devotees or those who have received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed to enter the church during mass, according to Quiapo Church parochial vicar Fr. Douglas Badong.

Badong said unvaccinated people would have to stay outside the church during the mass.

“Make sure na dala nila ang vaccination card para mas madali na sa kanila ang makapasok,” he said.

Vaccinated churchgoers are still required to wear a face mask and shield while inside the church as police will check their compliance with health protocols, Badong said.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has allowed the resumption of religious activities up to 30 percent of the church’s outdoor capacity and 10 percent for indoor venue for fully vaccinated individuals. – Robertzon Ramirez