While some lawmakers and several groups have questioned the legality of the premature vaccination of members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa thanked them for risking their lives as “guinea pigs” for a vaccine that is still unauthorized in the country.
Dela Rosa said they should not be faulted for taking the decision in a bid to protect President Duterte from the COVID-19.
(Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa / Facebook page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa kanila at ginawa nila ang sarili nila na guinea pig diyan sa eksperimento na ‘yan. Kung maganda ang resulta, eh di thank you. Kung pangit, kawawa naman sila at sinugal nila ang buhay nila para sa bakuna na ‘yan (We’re thankful for making themselves guinea pigs in that experiment. If the results are good, then thank you. If bad, it’s a pity for them for risking their lives for that vaccine),” Dela Rosa said in an interview over DZMM Teleradyo Saturday.
“I know those people. The PSG has nothing in mind but how to defend the President. That is their ultimate mandate. If they would be the carriers of the virus themselves…that would reach the President, that’s a big ‘no’ for them,” he said.
The senator appealed to critics to understand their decision, saying their conscience would not allow it if the President contracted the coronavirus.
“Hindi matanggap ng PSG ‘yan hangga’t mamatay sila. Hindi nila matanggal sa konsensya nila ‘yan na nagka-COVID ang presidente at namatay dahil sa kanila, na hindi sila naghanap ng paraan kung paano nila pigilan ang COVID. So diskarte na nila yan, intindihin natin (The PSG members won’t be able to accept it, until they die. They can’t remove it from their conscience if the President contracted COVID and die because of them and failed to find ways to prevent the disease. So it’s their call, let’s understand them),” he stressed.
Malacanang had received flak for the early inoculation of PSG members which Duterte himself revealed during a recent speech.
According to the President, some Cabinet members and soldiers have received the Sinopharm vaccine from China but it was not confirmed what brand of vaccine was administered to the PSG members.
Neither the Palace nor the PSG would disclose where the vaccines came from and only said that these were just donated and no public funds were used for it.
Lawmakers considered the vaccines as “smuggled” since they have not been authorized for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).