AKO BICOL Party-list Representative Alfredo A. Garbin Jr. calls out the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to provide a much-needed transparency with regard to the procurement of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine.
Despite not being a medical expert, Garbin clarified that he is familiar with the process that goes with the production of the COVID-19 vaccines. With that, also hopes that IATF-EID to select a variant that could treat both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients.
“Para sulit ang pondo ng bayan at totoong ligtas ang mamamayan, the IATF must choose a vaccine that can prevent asymptomatic as well as symptomatic infections,” he said.” Most of the COVID-19 vaccines have not applied for clinical trials here in the Philippines. In fact, only the ones from China and Russia have been reported to have applied, but the others opted not to.”
“Access of Filipinos to all those vaccines must be assured, not just the ones from China and Russia,” he added.
Additionally, the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Justice told the concerned sectors to constantly keep the public updated about the recent developments.
“Explain to the Filipino people all the scientific, economic, legal, and logistical facts. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. Bring out everything into the light of day, not keep them behind closed doors and in the dark. Nothing less than full disclosure will suffice,” he urged.
“Lives of millions and the collective future of our country is at stake. We are at a crucial juncture in history. We cannot and must not fail the Filipino people now,” he continued.
Meanwhile, those who are committing violations behind closed doors, Garbin warned to “not even dare” as the Congress will find out eventually.
“Do not even dare hide anything, intentionally delay anything, personally profit from anything, and purposefully set up unnecessary hurdles that would keep the COVID vaccines away from the Filipino people. We will find out. There is nowhere to hide anything,” he threatened.
For this matter, he has called on the Anti-Money Laundering Council to be on the lookout in case something suspicious comes up.
“Draft contracts, signed contracts, terms of reference, minutes of meetings, and every single document directly or indirectly related to any COVID-19 vaccine transaction produced by or emanating from any government office is a public document. Those public documents must be made public the moment or moments after they are approved, not weeks, months, or years later. Immediately,” Garbin noted.
“You cannot invoke executive privilege or any cloak of secrecy or invisibility. No. The Filipino people will not allow that and they expect us in Congress, as their elected representatives, not to allow that,” he ended.