President Duterte has accepted Russia's offer to supply the Philippines with its COVID-19 vaccines, assuring the public that he will be the first to take a shot to show his gratitude to Russia and to see if these are safe or not.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (ARMAN BAYLON/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

Duterte made the statement after Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev told reporters in a virtual press briefing that the results of Russia's vaccine trials are turning out to be “very promising.”

Khovaev had said that proposals for the clinical trials and the production of the vaccine in the Philippines were already with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

In his Monday public address, Duterte said he was over the moon with Russia's gesture toward the Philippines, saying this proved that the two countries are very good friends.

“Nagpapasalamat ho ako sa inyo sa mabuting loob ninyo sa Filipino. Someday, we will, makabayad man lang kami sa utang na loob sa inyo (I thank you for your kindness toward Filipinos. Someday, we will repay you),” he said Monday evening.

“I promise you that the Philippines and Russia will remain friends forever,” he added.

To show his gratitude to Russia, President Duterte said he would be the first to take a vaccine shot to show that he trusts their studies and to make sure that it is safe for Filipinos.

“Ako, pagdating ng bakuna, in public, para walang satsat diyan. In public, magpa-injection ako. Ako yung unang ma-experimentuhan, okay sa akin (When the vaccine arrives, I will take it in public. Experiment on me first, that's fine with me),” he said.

“Sabihin ko rin kay President Putin na malaki ang tiwala ko sa (I will tell President Putin that I have faith in)... your studies in combating COVID and I believe that the vaccine you have produced is really good for humanity,” he added.

“Pagdating yung doctor nila o doctor natin, ako ang unang magpabakuna. Tignan natin kung pwede ba. Kung pwede sa akin, pwede sa lahat (When their doctors arrive, or our doctors, I will be the first in line. Let's see if it works. If it will work for me, then it will work for everybody),” he continued.

Duterte likewise expressed readiness to assist Russia in the clinical trials in the Philippines and the local production of the vaccines and ordered Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to appoint the best person to deal with Russia.

“Maghanap tayo ng Russian partner dito, papiliin sila natin ng tao (Let's look for a Russian partner here and let them pick their own people) so that they can work expeditiously. Maganda ang takbo ng kanilang tao (So they can work properly). We are extremely grateful,” he said.

“I am asking the Secretary of Health to look for the best guy to be dealing with Russia in this area – the transfer of technology of the vaccine,” he added.

COVID-free Christmas

With Russia's offer of free vaccines, President Duterte said that the chance of having COVID-free Christmas is now higher.

“Hintay na lang kayo, kaunti na lang talaga (Just wait. It's only a matter of time),” Duterte told the public.

“By December, sabi ko (I said), in the fullness of God's time, we will have a, hopefully, a COVID-free December and we can enjoy this Christmas season,” he added.

Duterte said that COVID-19 vaccines will slowly be rolled out by September or October. However, these would still have to undergo clinical trials.

“Dumaan na sa kanila 'yang ano (These have already undergone)... the measures that would ensure that it is really safe. Tapos na 'yan (It's all done),” he said.

“Kaya lang (However), whether or not it is safe for a particular race, hindi natin malaman (we will not know) unless we go into clinical trials,” he added.

Putin's promise

President Duterte shared that President Putin once promised him when they last met in Sochi that Russia will assist the Philippines in any medical endeavor.

“Sabi niya (He said), ‘If you have a medical question mark on anything about medicines or cures, feel free to call me and anyone you'd like to be confined and treated here in Russia, we will ,’” Duterte recalled.

“'Yan ang sabi (That's what he said), ‘And we will help you develop the medicines that your country needs,” he added.

“The Philippines appreciates Russia’s offer of cooperation to jointly combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Borje.

“The Philippines stands ready to work with Russia on clinical trials, vaccine supply and production, and other areas deemed practicable by relevant Philippine and Russian agencies to address this global health emergency,” it added.

The Palace noted that like other bilateral and multilateral arrangements, all cooperation initiatives would be “consistent” with testing and health protocols.

It also recognized that international cooperation remained a key factor to
effectively combat the coronavirus pandemic.

“Consistent with the President’s independent foreign policy, we continue to work with partners across the world to ensure access to safe vaccine,” the Palace said.

Former Comelec chair dies of COVID-19

Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. passed away on Tuesday.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Brillantes had been suffering from
COVID-19.

“While we don’t have the exact cause of death yet, we can safely assume that it’s COVID-related,” he said.

Lawyer Emil Marañon also posted about the death of Brillantes in his Twitter account.

“My boss and former Comelec Chair Sixto S. Brillantes Jr. passed away at 11:08 a.m. today. What a great honor to serve the country by your side. Maraming salamat!” he said.

Last July 26, Marañon, Brillantes’ former chief of staff at the poll body, revealed that the former poll chief has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

A known election lawyer, Brillantes served as head of the Comelec from January, 2011, to February, 2015.

He was appointed as Comelec chairman by then President Benigno Aquino III.

Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos, Genalyn D. Kabiling, and Leslie Ann G. Aquino

PRRD accepts Russia’s vaccine offer; chances of COVID-free Christmas higher