Manila Bulletin
Lacson rebuts Galvez, denies politicizing COVID vaccine talks
Senator Panfilo Lacson denied accusations that senators were politicizing the government's COVID-19 vaccine procurement process.
Lacson stated that the Senate was merely exercising its role of "check and balance" in questioning vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.
He refuted claims that his questions were aimed at demonizing vaccine developers or harming negotiations with manufacturers, specifically mentioning Sinovac.
Lacson addressed allegations that he had personal motives against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, asserting that the hearing was not politically motivated.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. had virtually accused the Senate or at least some senators of "demonizing" vaccine developers or "hurting" ongoing negotiations.
Galvez specifically mentioned Lacson, Senators Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan in relation to the Sinovac vaccine.
Senator Francis Pangilinan associated himself with Lacson's manifestation during the hearing.
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Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. proposed a confidential disclosure agreement (CDA) between individual senators and vaccine manufacturers to allow lawmakers to know the exact prices of COVID-19 vaccines.
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President Rodrigo Duterte ordered vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to disclose COVID-19 vaccine deal details to Senate President Vicente Sotto III for transparency.
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Senate President Vicente Sotto III stated that the uproar over the early vaccination of Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel is a "non-issue" and should not divert the Senate from its investigation into the government's COVID-19 immunization program.
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Senate President Vicente Sotto III announced that the Senate Committee of the Whole will tackle the alleged preference of the Philippine government for the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine.
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Senator Panfilo Lacson expressed suspicion of an attempt to overprice Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines, noting a significant price difference compared to other countries.
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