Manila Bulletin
Duterte wants to end pandemic... if only he had 'a magic wand'
President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that he is finding it difficult to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and that the task of procuring vaccines for the country is arduous.
He expressed his frustration during his weekly public address on March 29, stating that he felt like he was going through purgatory.
Duterte noted that the current quarantine measures were similar to the initial lockdowns imposed a year ago, admitting that the country was 'practically back to zero' in terms of controlling COVID-19 transmissions.
This statement contrasted with the earlier assertion by his spokesman, Harry Roque, that the country was not 'back to square one'.
In response to the slow pace of the government's vaccination drive, Duterte ordered the government to allow the private sector to import their own vaccines.
🤖
This story was generated by AI to help you understand the key points. For more detailed coverage, please see the news articles from trusted media outlets below.
News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
Celebrities Angel Locsin and Enchong Dee have voiced their reactions to President Rodrigo Duterte's recent emotional national address regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more →
President Rodrigo Duterte stated that several countries have "shanghaied" COVID-19 vaccines, leading to a limited supply for other nations.
Read more →
President Rodrigo Duterte, who will turn 76 on March 28, wishes for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic so that Filipinos can return to normal life.
Read more →
President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened individuals involved in the trade of fake COVID-19 vaccines, warning them of severe consequences.
Read more →
President Rodrigo Duterte defended the government's pandemic response, stating that many other countries are also under lockdown.
Read more →