By GENALYN KABILING
Malacanang has no idea if President Duterte has been inoculated with a coronavirus vaccine but speculated the Chief Executive is probably still waiting if he can safely get both vaccines developed by China and Russia to show his gratitude.
After the President announced that some soldiers have taken vaccine shots, presidential spokesman Harry Roque admitted that he is unaware if Duterte has received any vaccine dose.
“I have no personal information, personal knowledge kung nabakunahan na siya o hindi,” he said during a televised press briefing.
Asked if it was dangerous to inoculate the President with an unregistered vaccine like Sinopharm, Roque said: “That’s speculative question because I don’t know if he has been vaccinated. Moreover, I don’t think the President will allow any vaccine to enter his system unless he has considered it (as safe) but as I said I cannot confirm nor deny.”
Roque later presumed that the President has not been vaccinated since Duterte is unsure if it would be possible to be inoculated by two different suppliers. He claimed that the President wanted to get vaccine shots developed by China and Russia in a bid to show gratitude for their supply offer.
SOLDIERS VACCINATED
Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana disclosed yesterday that some “officers and non-commissioned officers” of the Armed Forces, particularly from the Presidential Security Group (PSG), have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Sobejana refused to identify them or the unit where they belong and what vaccine they received.
“I know of some but I could not just disclose the unit. Personally, I know mayroon nang nabakunahan sa hanay po ng Armed Forces,” Sobejana said in a radio interview over DWIZ.
“Hindi ko maibigay ang accurate number but I confirm that some of our members ay nabakunahan. Hindi naman libo. Considering the population of our Armed Forces, hindi ganoon karami,” he added.
But Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, said that they found out that members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) from the AFP received the COVID-19 vaccine shot.
