After blowing the whistle, Colourette CEO 'completely baffled' after being charged by the police in 'vaccine slots for sale’
Nina Ellaine Dizon-Cabrera, CEO of local makeup brand Colourette Cosmetics, issued a clarification on Thursday, June 10 after she was tagged by the authorities as one of the suspects in the alleged scheme of selling COVID-19 slots in a city in Metro Manila.
On Wednesday, June 9, it was reported that Dizon-Cabrera was charged by the police with complaints of estafa, violation of the Anti-Red Tape Act as one of the three suspects allegedly involved in the alleged sale of COVID-19 vaccine slots.
According to the Philippine Star, Dizon-Cabrera was included in the charge after investigation showed she offered 50 to 100 vaccination slots in Mandaluyong City.
In an interview with cable news channel ANC on Thursday, June 10, Dizon-Cabrera said she was surprised by this turn of events, explaining she was the one who exposed the said scheme of vaccine slots for sale.
"I was the one who posted about this alleged scheme. What happened was I saw a 'for sale' post online and then I inquired. And then I found out that they were selling not vaccines but vaccine slots from LGUs. So I took it to Twitter,” she said. "And then all of a sudden, I was caught in the middle. I was dragged into the case, saying I had the intent to sell—but really, I was the one who exposed it."
I even got in touch with San Juan LGU because they emailed me right after they saw my post…they even thanked me for all the information that I passed on to them. I was really transparent sharing information to authorities,” Dizon-Cabrera added.
Wait. BAT AKO UNG NAGBENTA BIGLA? Ako nga yung binentahan at ako ang nagpost? Hold on. https://t.co/ntfyvcgBvq
— Nina (@theninaellaine) June 9, 2021
Dizon-Cabrera immediately took to Twitter on Wednesday following reports that she was included in the charge for the alleged vaccine slot for sale scheme.
“Wait. BAT AKO UNG NAGBENTA BIGLA? Ako nga yung binentahan at ako ang nagpost? Hold on,” she tweeted.
She also issued an official statement saying: “I have read the article. I am completely baffled as to why I am being dragged into this scheme when in fact, I exposed this exact scam on my Twitter account last May 21, 2021."
“As of writing, I have yet to receive anything from the complainant’s end, but I am already in communication with my lawyer regarding this matter. The truth, as always, shall prevail.”
She also retweeted her original tweets about the alleged scheme as well as her conversation with the LGU in May 2021.
This is the original tweet where I exposed the said scam. I was the one who was offered, not the other way around. https://t.co/Mtd6WnMFe2
— Nina (@theninaellaine) June 9, 2021
I even made sure to get all initial information. This is the conversation between me and the person who posted the for sale post. I even called the seller out when I found out she was selling slots. https://t.co/BjaIAAerR7
— Nina (@theninaellaine) June 9, 2021
“I even made sure to get all initial information. This is the conversation between me and the person who posted the for sale post. I even called the seller out when I found out she was selling slots,” she said.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered on Thursday night the directors of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Anti-Cybercrime Group to review the cases that were filed against Dizon-Cabrera if there were lapses in the investigation and in preparation of the cases.
“I personally read the statements made by Ms. Nina Ellaine Dizon-Cabrera in the social media and was made aware of her television interview wherein she aired her side regarding the issue of the sale of vaccination/vaccination slots,” Eleazar said.
He added, “I assure Ms. Dizon-Cabera that I will personally monitor the progress of my order—and to correct if there are things that need correcting in the interest of truth and justice regarding this ‘vaccine/vaccine slot for sale’ controversy.”