Duterte remarks triggered EU clarification on vaccine exports ban, says Palace

The European Union would not have issued a clarification of its policy limiting the exportation of COVID-19 vaccines had it not been for President Rodrigo Duterte's recent remarks on its supposed impact on poorer countries.

Presidential spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr. made the remark after the EU delegation said that the Philippines was among the 92 countries exempted from the exports ban.

“Kinakailangan naman talaga ng paglilinaw. Kasi ang lumalabas ay nagkakaroon nga po ng vaccine nationalism,” Roque said at a news conference when asked whether Duterte should retract his statement or apologize to the EU.

“At iyon po ang isyu na inilabas ng ating Presidente, ngayong nagkaroon ng ganiyang paglilinaw, we appreciate it. Pero kung hindi po nagsalita ang Presidente, hindi sila magbibigay ng linaw na ganiyan.”

Duterte on Monday night read a report on the EU's move to limit exports of COVID-19 vaccines and accused the EU of holding up supplies produced by its member-states.

The EU said on Tuesday that the measure contained exemptions including exports to 92 low- and middle-income countries covered by the COVAX facility, including the Philippines.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said on Monday that the Philippines sought to secure up to 178 million doses that would be enough for 92 million Filipinos. The vaccine rollout is expected to begin this month. -NB, GMA News