Bakit defensive? Ping asks after getting ‘twisted answer’ on vaccine whereabouts

Attempts by Malacañang – including President Rodrigo Duterte himself – to answer Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s question on the whereabouts of COVID vaccines the Philippine government had acquired through loans are raising more questions than answers.

On Tuesday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson reiterated his question “Nasaan ang bakuna (Where are the vaccines)?” – but also asked: “Bakit defensive?”

In a post on his Twitter account early Tuesday, Lacson said he merely asked a simple question “NASAAN KA BAKUNA?” – referring to his tweet last week where he cited the loans secured by the Philippine government from agencies such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, yet the vaccines to be bought using the loans have yet to arrive.

But he noted the Palace did not answer the question. On Monday evening, Duterte claimed in his recorded message that the vaccines the government paid for will be arriving soon, and that is the time people can ask where the money is.

“Bakit defensive?” Lacson asked, referring to Duterte’s reply.

Simple question: “NASAAN KA BAKUNA?”

Twisted answer: “DADATING NA YUNG BABAYARAN NATIN NA MGA BAKUNA, DOON PA SILA DAPAT MAGTANONG KUNG NASAAN NA YUNG PERA.”

Bakit defensive?

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) March 22, 2021

Earlier, presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo replied to Lacson’s question on the whereabouts of the vaccines by challenging Lacson to present a solution to the vaccine shortage.

Meanwhile, Lacson said he sourced his data from the websites of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other related sources. “Let me say again that I never asked where the money went,” he said in a text message to reporters.

“What I asked and will continue to ask until we get the accurate answer is: Since the money has been available through loans for quite some time – and I thank the DOF for its foresight – is: WHERE ARE THE VACCINES?” he added.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)