Senate President Vicente Sotto III said people should not make a “big deal” out of presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s controversial remark that Filipinos should bot “picky” on the COVID-19 vaccine brand they would get from the government.
“It has two sides eh. Kasi kung ano ang available eh gamitin na natin, ganun yung mentality ng sinasabi nila eh, ng spokesman ng Presidente. On the other hand, meron naman sinsabi na ‘Eh kung ayaw ko eh, ayoko niyan eh.’ Ako naman ang dali ng sagot ko do’n: Eh ‘di wag, ayaw mo pala eh. ‘Wag mo ipipilit, ayaw eh,” Sotto said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay press forum on Wednesday.
(It has two sides. We should use what’s available, that was the mentality of the president’s spokesman is saying that. On the other hand, it’s also: ‘I don’t want that.’ For me, the answer to that is simple: Then don’t if you don’t want it.’ Don’t force it.)
“I don’t think it should be an issue. Sikat lang yung ginamit na term ni Sec. Roque. Yung ‘don’t be choosy.’ Salitang kalsada kaya cute na pakinggan, na pagusapan, pero in practical terms ‘Ito available, ito ibibigay na natin sa inyo ngayon, ayaw mo? E ‘di wag….Ganun lang yun e,” he added.
(I don’t think it should be an issue. It just so happened that Roque used a popular term, it sounds cute. The ‘don’t be choosy’ remark. That is a colloquial term. But in practical terms, he’s saying that ‘This is available, this is what we can give now, you don’t want it? Then don’t…It’s simple.)
Sotto: Don’t make Roque’s vaccine remarks a big deal
“Let’s not make a big deal out of it because it’s up to the person talaga because the government will not impose it, they will make it available as soon as possible,” he further said.
On Monday, Roque said Filipinos should not be “picky” when it comes to what brand they would receive.
“Totoo po, meron tayong lahat na karapatan para sa mabuting kalusugan pero hindi naman po pwede na pihikan dahil napakaraming Pilipino na dapat turukan,” Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing.