Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. assured the Senate Friday that the Philippines would not set aside its victory over China in its territorial claim over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) because of apparent preference for Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine.
Opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros expressed fears that a possible preference for Sinovac vaccines might weaken Philippine territorial claim in today’s Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) third public hearing on the country’s COVIC vaccine program.
Galvez replied that differences between the two countries should be set aside since selection of which vaccine to be purchased by the government is science-based.
“We will not sacrifice our interests,” Galvez said, adding that the focus of countries is on saving humanity.