President Duterte told Vice President Leni Robredo that she does not have to keep on reminding the government about giving the best to the medical frontliners because that is exactly what he wanted for them.
Duterte made the statement in response to Vice President Robredo's remark that the country's healthcare workers deserve nothing but the best as the government rolled out its vaccination program against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) using the CoronaVac of the Chinese drugmaker Sinovac.
In his weekly public address, Duterte reminded Robredo that there are not many vaccines available in the market worldwide but he can give her money if she still insists on her stand.
"Sabihin ko sa iyo uli-- kung marunong kang makinig-- walang bakuna ngayon available either hingiin mo, nakawin mo (Let me tell you again-- if you know how to listen-- There are not vaccines available now either you beg for it or steal it)," he said Monday evening.
"Ngayon, kung gusto mo talaga para mahinto ka, kunin mo yung basket mo mamalengke ka doon sa labas ng bakuna (Now, so that you'll finally shut up, if you want, get your basket and shop for vaccines outside)," he added.
"Bigyan kita pera para kung may mabili ka, bilhin mo na agad at umuwi ka dito sa Pilipinas ibigay mo roon sa mga doktor (I will give you the money so if you find any, but it immediately and return to the country and give it to the doctors)," he continued.
According to the President, Robredo did not have to make an "idiotic stand" about giving the best to the country's health workers because that is what he wanted for them in the first place.
He added that the Vice President can die but he will never forsake the medical frontliners.
"Sometimes you make an idiotic stand. Yung mga ganoon (Your statements like), 'They deserve the best.' Bakit? Ako? (Why?) I would give them the worst?" Duterte said.
"Mamatay ka na, hindi ko iwanan ang mga (You can go ahead and die but I will never forsake our) frontliners. And you do not need to really be redundant about it," he added.
President Duterte has acknowledged that not all health workers want the Sinovac vaccine. He said he respects their decision to wait for another brand