The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday said she is willing to appear in a COVID-19 vaccination infomercial with President Rodrigo Duterte in order to encourage more Filipinos to be inoculated.
“Dati pa namang bukas si VP Leni, sa anumang hakbang na kailangang gawin para lalong maengganyo ang ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna," said Barry Gutierrez, spokesperson for the Office of the Vice President, in a radio interview.
"Kung talagang may magri-reach out sa kaniya at magkasama sila ni Pangulong Duterte para magkaroon ng isang infomercial para lalong maengganyo ang ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna sa lalong madaling panahon, bukas po siya diyan," he continued.
It was Senator Joel Villanueva who first floated the idea that Duterte and Robredo should release a “joint public service announcement” that would boost public confidence in the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Ang isang mungkahi po natin, maglabas ng isang joint public service announcement ang Pangulo at ang Bise Pangulo. Ito po ang tambalang nakikita nating mabisa na pangontra sa mga fake news,” Villanueva said in a statement.
If ever asked to do an infomercial, Gutierrez said Robredo would not ask for any conditions as the goal is to inform the people about the safety of vaccines.
He also added that it’s better if the campaign will not focus on vaccine brands.
“Sa panahon ngayon dapat talaga gagawin natin ang kailangan, magtulungan para lalong maitulak natin ang ating bansa lampas nitong pandemyang mahigit isang taon na nating binubuno. So sa panahon na ito, dapat isantabi muna iyong pulitika, isantabi muna iyong agam-agam, at magtulungan tayo,” he said.
