Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) — Government officials on Monday said the priority list for the scarce supply COVID-19 vaccines will be strictly followed, with no exemptions even for the family of President Rodrigo Duterte or Cabinet officials.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the first family will not get special treatment unless they are part of the vaccination priority. But he said some of them may get inoculated first to build the confidence of Filipinos on vaccines since most of Duterte’s children are also elected officials.
“Unless may comorbidity ay hindi po talaga sila mabibigyan ng prayoridad. Pero dahil mga public officials po ang mga anak ng ating Pangulo, eh baka naman po makipagtulungan din sila para ma-boost po ang public confidence,” he said in a media briefing.
[Translation: Unless they are persons with comorbidity, they will not be prioritized. But since they are public officials, maybe they will boost public confidence.]
Three of Duterte’s four children — Sara, Sebastian, and Paolo — occupy posts in Davao City and the House of Representatives.
Health department spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said government officials will also adhere to the vaccination priority list to protect healthcare workers, the elderly, those with comorbidities, and other frontliners against the coronavirus.
“If you’re a high government official and kailangan mo magpabakuna, kapag ikaw ay kasali sa prioritization natin, magkakaroon ka at kasali ka. Kung hindi, pupunta tayo kung saan tayo dapat nakalinya,” she said in a separate briefing.
[Translation: If you’re a top government official and you’re part of the prioritization list, you will be included. If not, we will go where we are supposed to be lined up.]
Roque said Duterte, 75, will be in the priority list since he is a senior citizen. He added this will also help convince the public to get vaccinated.
“Inaasahan po natin na isa siya sa pinakauna [We expect him to be one of the first to be vaccinated]. Whether it is done publicly or privately will be his decision,” he said.
The government is ready to begin its COVID-19 vaccination program on February 15, Roque said.
