Over 600 Tocilizumab vials have been distributed by the local government of Manila to parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to help these areas cope with the surge in COVID-19 cases, particularly the more transmissible Delta variant.

The local government said a total of 622 vials were given to 12 cities in the National Capital Region (NCR), 17 areas in Luzon, three areas in the Visayas, and three areas in Mindanao.

The local government denied Facebook posts claiming that Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso discriminated against persons from the Visayas and Mindanao.

One post, which was branded fake by the City Public Information Office, stated that Domagoso will not allow the entry of individuals coming from Visayas and Mindanao in Manila.

Domagoso said he would never discriminate against his fellow Filipinos.

“Hinding hindi po natin ‘yan magagawa sa ating kapwa Pilipino, lalo na ngayong panahon na kailanagn ng pagmamalasakit sa isa’t isa (I will never do that to my fellow Filipinos, specially during this time),” he said.

The mayor said the LGU even sent vials of Tocilizumab and Remdesivir to Visayas and Mindanao areas.

“Hangad ko po ang pagkakaisa ng bawat Pilipino, lalo ngayong panahon ng pandemya. Walang magmamalasakit sa ating mga Pilipino kundi tayo ring kapwa Pilipino (It is my wish to see Filipinos united especially during the pandemic. No one will care for us Filipinos other than our fellow Filipinos),” the mayor said.