The ‘’no vaccine, no VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement)’’ threat of President Duterte to the United States might have sealed the fate of the Philippines to settle for Sinovac, a Chinese pharmaceutical firm that developed COVID-19 vaccines instead of the US-made Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson issued the statement after President Duterte threatened to terminate the RP-US VFA.
(SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Lacson, chairman of the Senate National Defense and Security Committee, said the President’s attitude treated the Americans like a bunch of yokels.
‘’Such a pronouncement from the President is at the very least, unfortunate. I think there could be a more diplomatic or at least a better way of asking a longtime ally to help us avail of the vaccines for our people without sounding like we are blackmailing our way into it,’’ Lacson said.
‘’What is more unfortunate is that we had a good chance to procure vaccines early from the US, but someone from our side dropped the ball, and has yet to be held accountable up to this day,’’ he added.
Opposition Senator Francis ‘’Kiko’’ N. Pangilinan said that ‘’perhaps our citizens would be better off if he (President Dutetre) instead threatened China not to sell us more expensive yet less effective or inferior vaccines.’’
President Duterte issued the threat after a meeting at Malacanang with the inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and leading health experts on Saturday.
Duterte had said that he would end the VFA with the US if it fails to deliver some 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
In June, President Duterte shelved the abrogation of the VFA.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President is only demanding fair treatment from the US.
Lacson had earlier revealed that it was Health Secretary Francisco Roque III who ‘’dropped the ball’’ which led to the failure of Philippine officials to negotiate with Pfizer for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and their delivery to the country next month.
Lacson said Duque failed to submit a confidentiality agreement to Philippine negotiators as required by Pfizer.