Hontiveros questions compassionate use permit issued to Sinopharm

Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a compassionate use permit to Sinopharm for President Duterte’s Presidential Security Group (PSG).

Hontiveros said the FDA already issued emergency use authorization to Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca.

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“Mabuti sana kung wala pa. Dapat walang fast lane para sa PSG, lalo na kung walang special treatment ang mga healthcare workers natin na may pinaka-malaking sakripisyo sa pandemyang ito,” she said in a statement.

According to, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the compassionate use will cover 10,000 doses.

A vaccine needs to apply and obtain an emergency use authorization from the FDA for it could be administered in the country. Sinopharm has yet to apply for a EUA.

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However, FDA said it could allow the use of Sinopharm vaccines even without EUA if it approved for compassionate use.

In December 2020, AFP spokesman, Marine Major General Edgard Arevalo admitted that Duterte’s Presidential Security Group (PSG) were the first ones in the military to received COVID-19 vaccines, even if the regulators have not yet approved any vaccine for use in the Philippines at the time.

Hontiveros questions compassionate use permit issued to Sinopharm

“Kahit nag-issue pa ang FDA ng ‘compassionate special permit,’ kaduda-duda pa rin na may hiwalay na vaccination program ang PSG, labas sa inilatag ng NTF (National Task Force Against COVID-19) para sa publiko. Hindi ito dapat dinededma,” Hontiveros said.

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FDA chief Eric Domingo clarified that the FDA’s investigation into the unauthorized vaccination of the PSG will continue.

“Ligtas at mabisa ba ang Sinopharm? Kung sinasabing may parating nang mga bakuna sa susunod na dalawang linggo, bakit di na lang ito hintayin? May ginastos ba ang taumbayan para dito? Magkano? At higit sa lahat: Bakit ba hinahayaang manatiling misteryoso ang mga transaksyon tulad nito?” she said.

“Hindi naman mahirap sagutin ang mga tanong ng sambayanan kung gagamitin sana ang pangangatwiran tungo sa katotohanan. The public deserves answers,” she added.

Meanwhile, Malacañang announced on Thursday that over half a million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Sinovac would arrive in the Philippines on February 23.

According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said 600,000 doses will arrive on the said date, including the 100,000 doses the Chinese government donated to the Department of National Defense.