Duterte ‘order’ not to blame for overcrowding
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte should not be blamed over people swarming in some COVID-19 vaccination sites in Metro Manila last week, Malacañang said on Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque denied anew criticism that Duterte’s order to police and barangay officials to escort unvaccinated individuals back to their homes caused an unexpected number of people to show up at vaccination centers.
He said if Duterte’s directive was really to blame for overcrowding in vaccination sites, then people should have flocked to the sites much earlier.
Since Duterte made his threat to keep unvaccinated people in their homes on July 28, Roque said it is “unlikely” that it drove people to flock to vaccination sites on Aug. 5.
“Nangyari po ang pagdumog ng mga tao sa ilang vaccination sites sa Metro Manila at Region 4-A nung madaling araw ng umaga ng Huwebes, Aug. 5. At kailan po huli nagsalita ang Presidente tungkol sa bagay na ito? July 28 pa po,” he said in a Palace press briefing.
Roque said Duterte need not make any adjustments when releasing statements, insisting that he is the “best communicator” in the country.
“Wala pong pagkakamali ang Presidente sa kanyang pananalita at kung paniniwalaan natin ang mga surveys,” he added.
He floated anew the possibility of critics and detractors trying to “sabotage” the national government’s COVID-19 vaccination drive.
Roque also reminded local government unit (LGU) officials of their obligation to ensure an orderly COVID-19 vaccination process.
“Yung mga lokal na pamahalaan, huwag naman kayo magbabaling ng pula sa ating Presidente dahil the bottom line is, katungkulan niyo pa rin na kayo ang magpatupad ng maayos at makataong magbabakunahan,” he said.
Reports showed that an unexpected number of people swarmed in vaccination centers in Manila and Las Piñas last Thursday.
According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), vaccine turnout in Manila was as high as 22,000 from the usual daily numbers of 1,000 to 2,000 per vaccination site. Philippine News Agency
