Gibo back in Davao: 'I'm here to support vaccination, not for politics'
DAVAO CITY – Former Defense Secretary Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro clarified that he just came to the city to support the immunization program of the government against COVID-19 and not for politics.
In an interview, Teodoro said he just accepted the invitation of Presidential Daughter Mayor Sara Z. Duterte to encourage many people to be inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine.
"There's a time for politics, but not this time right now. I'm coming here to support the public vaccination program of the government, particularly the City Government of Davao," he said.
Teodoro said it is still early to talk about politics when the government is still battling against the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the former secretary said if the Presidential Daughter will run as president in the 2022 national elections, he will support it.
"But she, as you can see, she's focused on her job. Which is really the thing that all of our public officials and the heads of corporations, and who are responsible for other people must be focusing on -- getting people vaccinated and opening the economy," he said.
For her part, Duterte refused to comment on any tandem that is being formed for the coming presidential polls.
"Importante sa akin na andito si sir Gibo kasi kung wala siya, wala din kayo hindi ma-highlight ang pagbabakuna. Gusto namin ma-highlight yung vaccination talaga (It is important for me that sir Gibo is here because without his presence tha vaccination here in the city will not be brought up in the national scene. We just want to highlight our vaccination here in the city)," she said.
Duterte said it saddens her that the invitation given to Tedoro was tainted with politics since the purpose for this is only to encourage people to have them vaccinated.
The mayor said she is hoping that other personalities will get inoculated here in the city.
On July 3, Teodoro arrived around 2:00 p.m. at Mintal Comprehensive National High School where Duterte walked with him through the process until he got his second dose of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine.
The former defense secretary immediately went out after the 30 minutes observation at the post vaccination area where he did not feel any major side effects.