Attorney Barry Gutierrez clarified that it was not Vice President Leni Robredo who pushed for them to make an infomercial by President Rodrigo Duterte to encourage Filipinos to avail themselves of COVID-19 vaccine.
Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesperson, made the clarification after presidential spokesman Harry Roque told Talk to the Nation on Wednesday night that the vice president volunteered to appear in the vaccine ad with Duterte.
“Ngayong napakita natin na marami nang nagpapabakuna eh bigla namang nag-volunteer, gusto raw n’yang um-appear sa infomercial kasama kayo [Duterte]. Sa loob-loob ko, matapos tayong siraan nang siraan, ngayong nagiging matagumpay ang vaccination eh makikisama ngayon,” Roque said at the meeting, which was also attended by several Cabinet members.
“’Yan po ay desisyon ninyo. Ang sabi po ng ating bise president eh nais nya kayong makasama sa infomercial para sa vaccine confidence. Sabi po natin ay pag-aaralan ninyo kung anong kontribusyon na maibibigay ng ating bise presidente dahil alam naman natin na isa s’ya sa pinakamaingay na kritiko sa lahat ng ating ginawa,” he added.
Duterte did not respond to what Roque said.
VP spox: Roque lied about Leni wanting to have vaccine ad with Duterte
In Gutierrez’s Twitter post, it said: “Fact: VP Leni never ‘pushed’ to have a joint infomercial with the President, and Sec Roque is lying if he insists that she did.”
“Opinion: Someone who habitually lies is probably someone you shouldn’t trust,” added Gutierrez.
It will be recalled that Senator Joel Villanueva suggested that Duterte and Robredo make a vaccine ad together to encourage people to get vaccinated.
When Gutierrez was asked to comment on Villanueva’s statement, he said Robredo was open to suggestions on whether it would help the public trust the vaccine.
“Kung may magri-reach out sa kanya at magsasama sila ni Pangulong Duterte para magkaroon ng infomercial para lalong ma-enganyo ang ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna sa lalong madaling panahon, eh bukas ho siya d’yan,” said Gutierrez.
Gutierrez said the vice president’s office has already released a vaccine ad on COVID-19 vaccines in February.
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