Duterte volunteers to be guinea pig

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has welcomed the offer of Russia for joint cooperation in fighting COVID-19, and even volunteered to be a guinea pig for clinical testing of a Russian vaccine.

In a taped briefing Monday evening, Duterte said he was grateful to Russian President Vladimir Putin for extending assistance to the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To show them that I trust them and that they didn’t make a mistake in making the offer, I’ll have myself get vaccinated first. If it works on me, it’ll work on everyone,” he said in Filipino.

“In public, para walang satsat diyan, in public magpa-injection ako. Ako ‘yung maunang ma-eksperimentuhan. OK para sa akin (In public – so they won’t say anything – in public I’ll get an injection. I’ll be the first to be experimented on. It’s OK with me),” he said.

“I trust you and I have high hopes on you… your studies in combatting COVID and I believe that the vaccine that you have produced is really good for humanity,” he added, addressing Putin.

“I am very happy because Russia is our friend. We are not enemies. We do not have a conflict with Russia. They are ready to provide us with the vaccines,” the President said in Filipino during his meeting with the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infections Diseases.

“We are really friends. And they are ready to provide us with the vaccine and they are not telling us to pay for it,” the Chief Executive said.

A local association of multinational pharmaceutical firms have expressed concern over Russia’s rushing to allow public use of potential COVID-19 vaccine ahead of results of clinical trials.

The Russian government has expressed willingness to give Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute conditional registration for a vaccine it has developed.

According to Bloomberg, the Gamaleya Institute began phase 3 testing last week. Putin’s daughter has reportedly had the vaccine.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin voiced hope on Monday the vaccine would be registered “soon,” while one of his deputies said production is likely to start next month. The Health Ministry said mass vaccinations could begin by October, the online news site said.

Duterte also cited in his address developments in the United States but emphasized US vaccines won’t be offered for free.

“You will have to pay for it actually,” he said. Big firms like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson are developing vaccines, he said.

Duterte said he is more sure about Russia’s technology.

The Chief Executive said he expects vaccines to be ready for distribution by September and October following clinical studies.  The Philippines can have access to the vaccines by yearend.

“They should pass the measures that would ensure that it is really safe. And that’s it! Whether or not it is safe for a particular race, like the Filipino or Chinese, it cannot be known unless we go into clinical trials,” he said.

The President expressed belief that by December, “in the fullness of God’s time, we will have, hopefully, a COVID-free December and we can enjoy this Christmas season.”

“I said from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for being good to the Filipinos And someday we will… pay our debts of gratitude. But I promise you that the Philippines and Russia will remain friends forever,” he said.

Duterte reiterated his adherence to a so-called independent foreign policy. “I do not take sides in the geopolitical struggle,” he said.

In a statement released yesterday, Malacañang said the bilateral ties between Manila and Moscow have become stronger amid the pandemic.

“The Philippines appreciates Russia’s offer of cooperation to jointly combat COVID-119 pandemic,” the Office of the Presidential Protocol under Undersecretary Robert Borje Jr said.

“The Philippines stands ready to work with Russia on clinical trials, vaccine supply and production, and other areas deemed practicable by relevant Philippine and Russian agencies to address this global health emergency,” the Palace statement added.

“Consistent with the President’s independent foreign policy, we continue to work with partners across the world to ensure access to safe vaccine,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has received a “kind offer” of 100 units of ventilators valued at $1,557,520 from the US, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said.

The US government’s donation of Vyaire Ventilators model LTV 2200 was made through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The ventilators will be given to the Department of Health.

The US also donated an additional P11.4 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies for frontline workers.

This brings total US government COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines to P989 million or more than $20 million.

On Friday, the Philippines received the last 50 of the 130 ventilators donated by China.

“The Chinese side looks forward to the early distribution of the aforesaid ventilators to various medical institutions so as to help the Philippines fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Chinese embassy in Manila said.  –  Pia Lee-Brago