Palace: Duterte volunteering to test Russian vaccine proof he’s willing to ‘risk life’ for Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte volunteering to get injected with Russia’s vaccine against COVID-19 is proof that he is willing to risk his life for the sake of Filipinos as the country grapples against the pandemic, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Duterte, in a taped address Monday, accepted Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine offer and volunteered to receive the first injection to show its safety for humans.

“Ako, pagdating ng bakuna, in public, para walang satsat diyan. In public, magpa-injection ako. Ako yung unang ma-experimentuhan. Okay sa akin,” Duterte said.

(When the COVID-19 vaccine comes, I can get injected in public. I will be the first to be experimented on. That’s OK with me.)

“Well, yan po siguro ay saloobin na ng Presidente. Ang kanyang mensahe sa taumbayan, wag tayo mawalan ng pag-asa,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.

(Maybe that’s the sentiment of the President. His message to the public is that let’s not lose hope.)

“Naguunahan po ang mga bansa sa buong daigdig na magkaroon ng vaccine laban sa COVID-19 at kung kinakailangang isugal niya ang buhay niya para masigurado na itong vaccine na ito ay makakasalba ng buhay dito sa Pilipinas, gagawin po niya yun,” he added

(Countries are all trying to get their hands on a vaccine against COVID-19 and if he has to risk his life to ensure the vaccine’s safety, he will do it.)

Roque also assured that the vaccine against COVID-19 offered by Russia will undergo regulation and approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before public distribution.

“He’s (Duterte) grateful dahil sa offer ng Russia. Pero sabi rin nya na kinakailangan natin sundin ang batas na umiiral sa Pilipinas dahil nga po walang gamot na ibibigay sa publiko na hindi dumaan sa FDA,” Roque said.

(He’s grateful to Russia’s offer. But he also said that laws of the country need to be followed since no medicine will be given to the public without being regulated by the FDA.)

Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev earlier said Russia is ready to supply the country with COVID-19 vaccines.

Khovaev assured the trials of the vaccine were turning out “promising” and that it is “effective and safe.”[ac]