FILE — Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III. (Henzberg Austria/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III admitted on Saturday that he, too, is taking ivermectin to protect himself from getting COVID-19.
“Ako rin eh. Ako umiinom ako eh (I am also taking it). Prevention. Once every two weeks,” he told DWIZ.
Sotto said he knows other COVID-19 positive individuals whose conditions have improved after taking ivermectin, which he also called “preventive” drug against the disease.
“Meron akong mga kakilala, tinamaan ng COVID, tumira ng tatlong araw ng ivermectin. Pagdating ng pang-apat, panglimang araw tanggal na lahat ng symptoms, naghintay na lang ng 14 days bago nagpacheck ulit, pagpacheck negative na. Ang dami kong kilalang ganun eh,” he added.
(I have acquaintances who had COVID-19 and used ivermectin for three days. Their symptoms were gone at the fourth or fifth day. They just waited 14 days before undergoing test again. When they went through another test, they were negative. I know a lot of people who experienced that.)
Sotto advised health authorities to give more attention to treatment and prevention while the supply of COVID-19 vaccines is still scarce.
“‘Yung prevention mahalaga dito sa COVID. Sana naman nakikinig sila sa amin. Palibhasa, wala eh, Senate President lang tayo eh,” he added.
(Prevention is important here in COVID-19. I hope they will listen to us. Well, I am just the Senate President.)
Sotto even referenced former President Juan Ponce Enrile, who also admitted that he was taking ivermectin.
“Hihiramin ko ‘yung sinabi ni Manong Johnny: ‘Walang pakialam ang FDA (Food and Drug Administration) kung ano ang gusto kong ilagay sa katawan ko,’” said Sotto, adding that the ivermectin he is taking is conditioned for human use.
(I will borrow a quote from Manong Johnny: “The FDA has no say on what I will take for my body.”)
Health authorities have been warning against the unauthorized use of ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment and prevention since the drug is not yet registered for human use in the country. The FDA, however, recently issued compassionate special permit for two hospitals to use ivermectin for COVID-19 patients.