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).
"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.
Hindi, just respond to the offer professionally on the right not junior level; say no and explain why. The offeror answered back devastatingly. Don’t ever, Duque, ever, question my motives. https://t.co/KWmv04AmIG
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) December 13, 2021
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.
I was assured it was being handled professionally and would be disposed of on a factual basis and not by pakiusap or tago-ng-tago. It was given to junior staff. Kasi tayo ay sa parehong administrasyon, ayaw ko mababuy ang reputation ng PRRD admin. Walang kasamahan sa kababuyan. https://t.co/PIdPFYa8sE
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) December 13, 2021
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