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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte confident of corruption-free COVID-19 vaccine purchase

Duterte confident of corruption-free COVID-19 vaccine purchase

Published Dec 8, 2020 09:32 am

President Duterte is confident that the country's purchase of COVID-19 vaccines will be free from corruption with vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. in charge.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on December 7, 2020. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

In his public address Monday night, Duterte said he has full faith and confidence that there will be no kickbacks involved in the process of acquiring the vaccines because there will only be one person who will take care of it.

"They say that we would need about P73 billion to vaccinate the population. Iyan, teritoryo ‘yan ni (That's the territory of) General Galvez. I have full faith and confidence that walang kickback-kickback ‘yan (that there will be no kickbacks involved)," he said.

"Walang makikialam. Siya lang. Ang sinabi ko, siya lang ang kakana niyang vaccine para sa ating mga kababayan (Nobody will interfere. It's just him. I told him that he's the only one who will handle the vaccine for everybody)," he added.

Last month, President Duterte revealed that he named Galvez as the vaccine czar to lead the government's acquisition and distribution of vaccines for COVID-19 after turning down the idea of having committees to deal with the procurement.

He likewise agreed to make advance payments to companies making the vaccine so the Philippines will not be left behind on the road to recovery from the pandemic. Duterte initially slammed western pharmaceutical companies for seeking what he called "reservation fees."

The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had approved the national COVID-19 vaccine roadmap and formed a new cluster to implement the immunization program.

The President likewise allowed the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

Two weeks ago, Malacañang assured the public that there will be no politics involved in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines as the government's vaccination program is set to last a maximum of five years, covering the election year 2022.

In a press briefing, Galvez said President Duterte wants to contain COVID-19 because of the suffering it brought to the people.

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