Palace defends Duterte linking US vaccines to VFA

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday defended President Duterte’s remark that he would scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) if the US does not supply the Philippines with COVID-19 vaccines, saying it was in line with his independent foreign policy.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President was just emphasizing the need for allies to work together as the world grapples with a pandemic.

“The President said he would really cancel the VFA if there is no vaccine. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s not blackmail. That’s what independent foreign policy means. We are not beholden, we do not allow anyone to dictate on us,” Roque said at a press briefing.

“What the President was saying is, since we are friends, let us help each other. We need vaccines, you have vaccines so give us some. You need our territory for the Visiting Forces Agreement, we will give that to you. But if you do not give us vaccines, then forge the VFA with countries that you prioritized in the giving of vaccines,” he added.

The VFA is a defense pact signed in 1998 that allows Philippine and US troops to hold joint exercises on Philippine soil. Earlier this year, Duterte announced plans to terminate the VFA following the cancellation of the US visa of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a former police chief who strategized the controversial war on illegal drugs.

Duterte suspended the termination of the VFA in June, citing “political and other developments in the region.” He extended the suspension for another six months in November.

But last Saturday, he said American forces cannot stay in the Philippines if the US fails to deliver a minimum of 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, drawing flak from senators who viewed it as blackmail.

He made the remark after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was accused of “dropping the ball” in the Philippines’ talks with American vaccine manufacturer Pfizer.

Roque said Duterte cannot be barred from making such pronouncements because he is the chief architect of foreign policy.

“Let’s not view it negatively. The President talks in a straightforward manner. If the things he did are not yet enough to secure vaccines... it’s just right for the President to say, ‘enough is enough, no vaccine, no VFA’,” the Palace spokesman said.

He cited Duterte’s decision to grant absolute pardon to American serviceman Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was convicted of homicide for killing transgender Jennifer Laude in Olongapo in 2014. Roque was a lawyer for the Laude family.

“When he (Pemberton) was granted pardon, of course the (Laude) family and I felt bad. But I thought perhaps the President needed to do it to ensure that we would be able to get vaccines. But it seems that it was not enough for us to be given vaccines,” Roque said.

Mudslinging

Malacañang also yesterday linked criticisms against the efficacy of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines to mudslinging among vaccine makers as it maintained that the Philippines is not lagging behind in terms of vaccine procurement.

Some senators have expressed concern over the Duterte administration’s decision to buy vaccines from Chinese drug maker Sinovac despite reports that its efficacy rate is just 50 percent, lower than those produced by western companies.

They claimed that a 50 percent efficacy may not inspire public confidence in vaccines.

Some sectors are also wary about the safety and efficacy of the coronavirus shot developed by Chinese firms.

But Roque said the 50 percent threshold was set by the WHO, not by the Philippine government. He also disputed claims that the Sinovac vaccine’s efficacy rate is only 50 percent.

“What was stated was in excess of 50 percent. In fact, some jurisdictions that issued EUA (emergency use authorization) said the rate reached 90-plus percent. We get vaccines from sources where they are available. For now, the earliest time we can get western vaccines is June and I hope it will happen. But if we can get Chinese vaccines earlier, why not?” the spokesman added.

He also noted that “now that the vaccines are here, that (criticism) is expected. It’s about the competition of vaccine manufacturers and of course some will criticize China.”

Roque brushed aside criticisms that Chinese vaccines are more expensive, saying: “There are soldiers who got inoculated and there were no payments made so don’t believe that the Chinese vaccines have already set prices.”

“At a time when many vaccines are surfacing, do not believe everything you hear. Vaccine makers are resorting to mudslinging not just against Chinese medicines but also against western vaccines. They are maligning each other,” he said as he reiterated that all vaccines would be evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure these will be safe for public use.

He claimed that some sectors have politicized the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.

“If western (pharmaceuticals) cannot supply us with vaccines, our friend and neighbor China can provide vaccines. There’s politics there. In the Philippines, some are saying, ‘why are we lagging behind?’ Who said we would be first? Of course, the countries that developed the vaccines would prioritize their citizens,” Roque said. “But we do not allow ourselves to be left behind... We expect everyone to supply (vaccines) because the law applicable now is the law of humanity in times of pandemic.”

Roque also chided opposition Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who said Duterte should have warned China not to sell expensive but less effective vaccines.

“Kay Senator Pangilinan, buti na lang hindi ka Presidente (it’s a good thing you are not the president),” he said.

Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda underscored the benefits of carrying out the immunization of people as soon as the COVID-19 vaccine is ready, which will also ultimately redound to the immediate recovery of the battered economy.

“The loss in economic activity due to the lack of mass vaccination is staggering. There should be no reason we cannot procure a wide range of COVID-19 vaccines, by both the public and private sectors,” he emphasized. – Delon Porcalla, Cecilia Suerte Felipe