100,000 Chinese in PH vaccinated, says Chinoy leader

Teresita The Headquarters

MANILA, Philippines – Some 100,000 Chinese based in the Philippines were inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine in December, according to prominent Chinese-Filipino civic leader Teresita Ang-See.

Ver made the disclosure on Monday, amid a controversy over the vaccination of troops from the Presidential Security Group (PSG), although there is still no approved COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

“We call it the attention of the authorities because, for me, it is okay for them to get vaccinated, because we don’t have much control over them,” Ang See said in the Tapatan sa Aristocrat forum held online.

“We have … no base to catch them … especially the workers of Pogo (Philippine offshore gaming operator),” he said.

Ang See, who is also an academic, writer, and activist, gained renown in the 1990s when she defended the rights and well-being of Chinese-Filipinos amid threats to their lives at the time. She is the founding president of the Kaisa Heritage Center, which operates the Bahay Tsinoy Museum of Chinese in Philippine Life.

Same source

According to Ang See, the Chinese, mostly Pogo workers, were vaccinated starting in November last year.

He also stated that the source of the vaccines was the same as that of PSG.

“The vaccines they were given were legitimate and legitimate sources, they came from the official channel, so I think it’s good,” Ang See said. “This shouldn’t have been an exaggeration if it hadn’t been kept secret, because … we all understand why it is necessary.”

“Why secretly do it this way, especially if it’s an official channel?” he said, without explaining what an official channel is.

“I am glad that they are being vaccinated because it also protects us if they are protected,” Ang See said.

Of those vaccinated, he said, only one had tested positive for the virus. “It was on the news and for me, let it be.”

“At that time, there were 5,000 citizens vaccinated and there are no adverse effects or allergy shock, or [negative] reports, ”he said.

But Ang See also raised a number of concerns: “When the vaccine started to arrive and they were vaccinated, I said it was positive.”

“Just that, my concern is, where is our politics? One, they are violating our laws. Second, what if something goes wrong? Who are the people who run it? Do you keep the old chain? Those are the things I mentioned, ”he said.

“How about storage? What if there is a problem with storage management and handling? Ang See said.

‘Very slow’

“I know they raided clinics where vaccination is carried out but they didn’t find it. So I really don’t know. Maybe that’s what the DOH (Department of Health) should study. It is coming. It is only for Chinese citizens, so be it. That they protect themselves because it also protects us “.

“It is good that they are protected because we are very slow,” he also lamented. “I know it is against the law, but they are justifying the smuggling.”

“There are many things that need to be changed,” Ang See said.

“The IATF (Interagency Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) should not be composed primarily of [of] general. Where is the [Chinese-Filipino] community there? Why don’t they mobilize these people who are more efficient than they are? Let’s not punish those who do what they can despite the ineffectiveness of others ”.

Foreign approval

“From April to June, we kept raiding and confiscating those things. They were approved by the FDA of Singapore, Japan and Korea. And are we better off because we robbed them and they are not approved? If you are helping our sick, why don’t we allow them? We allow ampalaya, tawa-tawa for dengue, ”he said, referring to raids carried out from time to time on clinics in Makati City and the global city of Bonifacio that were treating Chinese citizens.

“Aren’t you happy that these people are responsible for their own people? They treat Chinese patients in their own clinic under their responsibility. How is that? You raid clinics and Chinese patients have nowhere to go. They went untreated and they mixed with our people and we got infected, ”Ang See said.

Asked for comment, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that “if that’s true, then that’s fine. One hundred thousand fewer possible carriers of the COVID-19 virus. “

–With report Leila B. Salaverria

The Inquirer Foundation supports our leaders in healthcare and still accepts cash donations to be deposited into the Banco de Oro (BDO) checking account # 007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link .

Read next

Don’t miss the latest news and information.