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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Locsin hits back at Duque: 'Don't ever question my motives'

Locsin hits back at Duque: 'Don't ever question my motives'

Published Dec 13, 2021 07:10 pm

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. hit back at Health Secretary Francisco Duque III Monday, Dec. 13, telling him to not ever question his motives over the missed out 50-million syringes offer from the United States (US).

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (File photo/Malacañang)

"Don’t ever, Duque, ever, question my motives," Locsin said on Twitter Monday afternoon as he responded to Duque's claim that "Locsin wanted to go with the price that the supplier wants" for the syringe offer.

Duque also said that the Philippine top diplomat did not bother contacting him despite the open communication and instead kept on tweeting. This after he refuted Locsin's claim that the country has "dropped the ball again."

Locsin argued that the government could have just responded to the offer "professionally" and explain the reason for declining it. However, he said, it was given to a "junior staff."

"Hindi (No), just respond to the offer professionally on the right not junior level; say no and explain why. The offeror answered back devastatingly," Locsin stressed.

He disclosed that he "was assured it was being handled professionally and would be disposed of on a factual basis and not by pakiusap (request) or tago-ng-tago (secretly)."

"It was given to junior staff," he said.

The exchange between the two Cabinet officials ensued from a statement of Locsin on Saturday, Dec. 11, saying that country has missed out on a US donation again. He bared that Philippine agencies "refused to discuss the ball let alone catch it."

READ: COVID vax donation from US: 'We dropped the ball again', says Locsin

Locsin said he is seeing "the pattern" as it was already the second time the Philippines allegedly "dropped the ball" on donations from the US.

In December 2020, the Philippines was supposed to receive 10 million Pfizer vaccine doses until "someone dropped the ball."

READ: Duque refutes Locsin's latest 'dropped the ball' tweet, calls it senseless

Related Tags

Secretary Francisco Duque III 121321 50 million syringe US SECRETARY TEODORO LOCSIN JR
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