MANILA, Philippines — How did former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who is said to be planning to take a jab at the vice presidency in 2022, get jabbed against the coronavirus in President Duterte’s daughter’s bailiwick?
And how was it possible that the actor Aga Muhlach, his wife, and their twins got vaccinated all together?
The Department of Health (DOH) is looking into the vaccinations of Teodoro and his friend, former lawmaker Rolando Andaya Jr., in Davao City, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Friday.
Vergeire said the DOH central office had tasked the Davao regional office to explain, but quickly added in Filipino: “Nevertheless, we believe our Davao regional office follows protocols.”
‘Done deal’
Old friends Teodoro of Tarlac and Andaya of Camarines Sur flew to Davao City on Thursday to meet with Mayor Sara Duterte. Andaya posted pictures before and after the meeting on his Facebook account and indicated that a Duterte-Teodoro team-up in the 2022 presidential election was a “done deal.”
Former Defense Secretary getting vaccinated in Davao City. Image from the Facebook page of former Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya
Andaya also said Mayor Duterte offered the Sinovac vaccine to Teodoro, saying some people had not shown up for their scheduled first or second doses.
At her Friday briefing, Vergeire said that while the Davao regional office would explain the incident, the DOH was “not so strict” regarding the “geographic limitation” of vaccinations.
“It depends on the circumstances, but we are not so strict when it comes to geographical limitation… What is important is the proper implementation of the prioritization framework,” she said.
At present, vaccinations are being conducted on those who fall under the A1 to A4 categories: health care workers, senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and economic front-liners.
Andaya said Teodoro was jabbed under the A3 category.
Comorbidities
The Muhlachs were also vaccinated as A3s, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has cleared their jabs.
In a statement on Friday, the DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya reiterated the explanation provided by the Muntinlupa City government along with the pertinent documents.
“They are bonafide residents of Muntinlupa City. They enrolled at the Muncovac (Muntinlupa COVID-19 vaccine) registration portal under the A3 category,” Malaya said.
The family had submitted medical certificates from their attending physician at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center to prove that they have comorbidities, which were verified by the city health office.
Neither the Muntinlupa government nor the DILG disclosed the Muhlachs’ specific comorbidities.
“Therefore, the department sees no violation of the DOH or [the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] regulations in the aforementioned vaccination,” Malaya said.
The Muntinlupa government earlier denied reports that it had extended special treatment to Muhlach, 51; his wife Charlene Gonzales-Muhlach, 47; and their 19-year-old twins Andres and Atasha, who all got their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Festival Mall underground parking in Alabang on May 31.
Inclusive
Per city information officer Tez Navarro, the celebrity family did not jump the line, and went through the proper process to be jabbed, along with other people from the barangays of Alabang, Cupang and Ayala Alabang who were also scheduled that day.
Navarro raised the matter of discrimination, noting that there were other prominent personalities, including celebrities, politicians, and big businessmen in the upscale Ayala Alabang.
“Other celebrities and officials [who are also part of the priority groups] were already vaccinated. Why single out the Muhlachs?” Navarro said in a message to reporters.
“We are inclusive in Muntinlupa. Rich or poor, politicians or stars, the vaccination program is open to all those who register. No special treatment to anyone,” she added. —With a report from Nestor Corrales