Reported vaccination of Pogo workers ‘good,’ means lesser possible COVID carriers

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — If reports turn out true, Malacañang said Monday it is “good” that some 100,000 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) workers in the Philippines were already vaccinated against COVID-19 as this means there are now less possible carriers of the virus.

“Wala po akong impormasyon. Kung totoo man, eh ‘di mabuti. [So] 100,000 less possible carriers of the COVID-19,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online Palace briefing when sought to comment on the matter.

(I don’t have any information. But if it is true, then good. [There will be] 100,000 less possible carriers of the COVID-19.)

“Regarding the 100,000, unless they came back to China and had the vaccination here in China as to whether they were brought out of China, I cannot confirm or deny. I certainly don’t know,” Philippine Ambassador to China Jose “Chito” Sta. Romana said in the same briefing.

Chinese Filipino civic leader Teresita Ang See reportedly bared that some 100,000 Pogo workers in the Philippines have been inoculated against COVID-19.

This, despite the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given no approval yet on any vaccine.

Meanwhile, the FDA already launched an investigation on the vaccination of some government officials, members of the Presidential Security Group and other military men.

The National Bureau of Investigation was also ordered to look into the possible smuggling of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

JPV