III to answer allegations that he was to blame for the country’s acquisition of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine next month to not push through.Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Senator Panfilo Lacson, citing Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, revealed that it was Duque who “dropped the ball” on the Philippines’ chance to acquire 10 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine.
“Minabuti ni Presidente Duterte na advise-an si Secretary Duque [to] answer the allegations of Secretary Locsin in the same manner that he defended himself in yesterday’s meeting,” he said. “Mag-away na ang lahat kung gusto nila but the President has made it clear: There’s only one person in charge of getting [the] vaccine, it’s Secretary Galvez,” he said.
“Given the track record of Secretary Galvez, I think that’s a far shot. We will succeed because of the proven competence of Secretary Galvez,” he said.