Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Epimaco Densing mentioned that actor Mark Fernandez’s recent COVID-19 vaccination was “legally and morally” wrong.
To recall, Fernandez got inoculated with the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine.
Through a text message on ABS-CBN News, Fernandez explained that he did not violate anything as he is a part of Parañaque City’s quick substitution list.
“No violation is made because I’m on the second priority list and some people on the list didn’t show up,” he said.
Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez also defended the actor as he explained that Fernandez has “comorbidities” that made him qualified to get prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines.
According to an article by ABS-CBN, DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said that being on the quick substitution list is not a valid excuse to receive the vaccination.
“Hindi pa rin po. ‘Yung unang excuse nila na nasa quick substitution list. Kung ikaw ay A1 (health worker), A1 pa rin ang substitutes,” he told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
Densing noted that the move by Fernandez was completely wrong saying, “Kahit saang anggulo, legally and morally, mali.”
Meanwhile, netizens are asking what the DILG plans to do next after recognizing that Fernandez was wrong to be prioritized to take the vaccine.
Filipino physician Dr. Tony Leachon asked: “What’s the next step, DILG?”
What’s the next step, DILG ? https://t.co/YU1cVYlvuO
— Tony Leachon MD (@DrTonyLeachon) March 31, 2021
Other netizens also wrote that they are watching the next step of DILG regarding the COVID-19 jab issue of Fernandez.
We'll see what will be the actions of authorities beyond show cause order https://t.co/TwKgmYFRKo
— 𝙳𝚎𝚎 𝚄𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚘 (@djmdrgl) March 31, 2021
https://twitter.com/eliwarsaw/status/1377111456404054017
What now? https://t.co/UNPi6GNzP2
— Jasper (@jasperabarca) March 31, 2021
Others also slam Fernandez for receiving special consideration just by being an artist and rich. While some mentioned that the elderly citizens and frontliners should be the ones being prioritized.
https://twitter.com/AlphaMaleThirdy/status/1377189462673817601
https://twitter.com/anacomluarca/status/1377110584118812674
Do we really need an explanation or a statement from DILG for this straight-up misgiving?
How about accountability? https://t.co/VpFyT0x9pa
— Raf Coloyan, MD (@Raf_MD) April 1, 2021
Mark Anthony Fernandez is an actor and the late action star Rudy Fernandez and actress-politician Alma Moreno’s son. Recently, he starred in the thriller-horror movie Biyernes Santo. The film premiered on March 26 on VivaMax.
