Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez says he is ready to face the investigation to be conducted by the Department of Interior and Local Government after he was vaccinated against COVID-19.
The mayor insisted that he did this only to encourage medical frontliners and the people of Tacloban to get vaccinated safely.
Romualdez also clarified that what he did was not to save himself but actually endangered himself because he did not follow the advice of his doctors not to get vaccinated due to an existing illness.
He added that if he was special, he should have waited for other vaccine brands such as Pfizer, Moderna, and Aztrazeneca.
“Kaya ako (That’s why for me) I’m willing to face the consequences but I am very happy that at least 90 percent of our people, our frontliners are now availing of that vaccine. It will help. It is not a 100 percent solution but we need anything that can help. My explanation is a simple one. I’ll face the consequences but I did that. Alam niyo, sa totoo lang, pagkatapos ako nabakunahan unang-una (You know, the truth is, after I got the shot, first of all) I did not hide. I made it public, I made it public for people to be convinced to avail. Maraming natatakot (So many people are scared).”
Romualdez made the statement after Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said they will task the DILG to conduct a probe on what the mayor did.
“Hindi pa nababago po ang ating prayoridad – dapat medical frontliners pa lang po sa ngayon. So again po uulitin natin, hindi po pwede magpabakuna muna ang mga hindi medical frontliners dahil kung susuway po tayo dito sa order of priority na ito, maaapektuhan po iyong ating future deliveries galing po sa COVAX Facility (Our priorities have not changed – medical frontliners are being vaccinated first. Let me repeat this, those who are not medical frontliners cannot get the shot yet because if we go against the order of priorities, the future deliveries from the COVAX Facility will be affected). And of course, we regret this incident but I will refer the matter to the DILG for proper action dahil kinakailangan po talagang imbestigahan ito (since there is really a need to investigate this).”
But according to Tacloban City Administrator Atty Aldrin Jude Quebec, Romualdez did not violate any law based on Resolution Number 4 of the Interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19 Vaccines which states that any excess dosage from the vaccine that is donated by Sinovac for priority group A1 can be given to priority group A4 which includes local chief executives who are also considered frontline essential workers.
“Any excess vaccine donation of sinovac from priority group A1, A1 means yung mga (the) health care workers natin (of ours), okay? Shall be provided to priority group A4 which includes the local chief executives who are considered as frontline essential workers.”
Meanwhile, Romuladez also defended himself amid criticisms for not wearing a face mask while being innoculated.
“Maraming nagsasabi hindi ako sumunod ng protocol. Bakit wala akong mask? Sa totoo lang, pinatanggal yung mask ko kasi gusto nila makita yung labi ko if it will turn blue for lack of oxygen daw (Many are saying I did not follow the protocol. Why was I not wearing a mask? Honestly, they asked me to remove my mask for them to see if my lips will turn blue for lack of oxygen.” – Ryan Lesigues
