OVP spox: If asked, Robredo open to do COVID-19 vaccine infomercial with Duterte

Vice President Leni Robredo —PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT; President Rodrigo Duterte —MALACAÑANG PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –  Vice President Leni Robredo is open to appearing in a COVID-19 vaccination infomercial with President Rodrigo Duterte if asked, Barry Gutierrez, spokesperson for the Office of the Vice President said Friday.

Senator Joel Villanueva earlier suggested that Duterte and Robredo should release a “joint public service announcement” that would boost public confidence in the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Dati pa namang bukas si VP Leni, sa anumang hakbang na kailangang gawin para lalong maengganyo ang ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna. Sa katotohanan nga noong nakaraang Pebrero, naglabas na siya ng isang online infomercial na dini-discuss niya iyong iba’t ibang mga katanungan ng ating mga kababayan tungkol sa bakuna.” Gutierrez said in an interview on DZBB.

(VP Leni, has always been open to any steps that need to be taken to further encourage our countrymen to get vaccinated. In fact, last February, she released an online infomercial in which she discussed the various questions of our countrymen about the vaccine.)

“So kung talagang may magri-reach out sa kaniya at magkasama sila ni Pangulong Duterte para magkaroon ng isang infomercial para lalong maengganyo ang ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna sa lalong madaling panahon, bukas po siya diyan,” he added.

(So if someone really reaches out to her and President Duterte to work together to have an infomercial to further entice our countrymen to get vaccinated as soon as possible, she is open to that.)

Gutierrez added that should VP Leni be asked to do an infomercial, there will be no conditions as the goal is to inform the people about the safety of vaccines.

“Sa panahon ngayon dapat talaga gagawin natin ang kailangan, magtulungan para lalong maitulak natin ang ating bansa lampas nitong pandemyang mahigit isang taon na nating binubuno. So sa panahon na ito, dapat isantabi muna iyong pulitika, isantabi muna iyong agam-agam, at magtulungan tayo,” he said.

(In this day and age, we must really do what is necessary, work together to further push our country beyond this pandemic that we have been fighting for more than a year. So at this time, we must put aside your politics first, put aside your doubts first, and let’s work together.)

RELATED STORY: Duterte, Robredo together in ‘ad’ for COVID-19 jabs? Why not, says senator

/MUF