Focus on securing COVID-19 vaccine, Robredo tells Duterte gov’t

MANILA, Philippines — Rather than waste time bickering on “who dropped ball” in the talks with the United States-based drugmaker Pfizer, Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday enjoined the Duterte government to focus on securing COVID-19 vaccine deals.

During her weekly radio program, Robredo said government officials’ opposing claims in the issue only adds to the public’s fears that the country is being left behind in the procurement of the coronavirus vaccines.

Robredo, however, refused to dip her hands into the issue involving Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manual Romualdez, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, as she noted that there are many sides to the story.

“Ayaw kong manisi ng kahit sino, kasi hindi ko naman alam iyong buong kuwento. Hindi ko alam iyong buong kuwento, pero napakaraming sides of the coin,” Robredo said.

Locsin earlier tweeted that he and Romualdez were able to secure millions of vaccine doses of Pfizer vaccines which are to arrive in the country by January 2021. However, the country’s top diplomat bared that the plans were foiled after “someone dropped the ball.” Locsin did not identify who he was referring to.

It was Lacson who claimed that it was Duque who allegedly botched the deal by failing to submit a confidentiality data agreement that would have allowed the transaction to push through.

Duque denied the allegations, saying that “there is no such thing as dropping the ball” as negotiations with Pfizer are still ongoing.

With reports of inoculation of coronavirus vaccine in other countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, Robredo said the government should now focus on striking deals with drugmakers and ensuring the vaccines’ safety and efficacy.

“Sana mag-usap-usap muna sila. Sana mag-usap-usap muna sila, para iyong boses ng gobyerno isa lang. Kasi kung iba-iba iyong boses ng gobyerno, mas lalong nakakadagdag sa pagkatakot ng tao,” the opposition leader said.

EDV

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