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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5) – President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Presidential Security Group to remain silent about his controversial vaccination if lawmakers asked him to appear in their investigation.
“So if they will be called to testify in Congress, as a lawyer … I will just ask PSG to just shut up. Don’t respond. Invoke the right not to incriminate yourself,” Duterte said Monday night. “Don’t force my soldiers to testify against their will.”
The Senate is expected to review the government’s COVID-19 vaccination plan on January 11.
However, it has yet to be decided whether vaccinating Duterte’s nearby security personnel with smuggled vaccines will be discussed in the same investigation or whether another hearing will be scheduled for it.
Different government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, Customs Office, National Bureau of Investigation, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will also look at how unregistered COVID-19 vaccines entered the country.
Despite acknowledging the separation of powers between the Executive and Legislative departments, Duterte warned lawmakers not to investigate the vaccination of their closed security.
“What legislation can you make that has something to do with vaccines? You can’t legislate the vaccine[s]”, said.” I hope we understand each other. I’m not the bombastic type, but don’t force me, I said, to do something that isn’t good. Kung gusto niyo ng gulo, follow “.
Amid criticism, Duterte defended PSG, saying they are only doing their job to protect him as required by law.
“For me it is a question of self-preservation. Whatever your objection, your criticism, to that is a question of self-preservation,” Duterte said.
“I am prepared to defend my soldiers. I will not allow them, despite their good intentions, to be brutalized in hearings,” he added.
Head of PSG BGen. Last week, Jesús Durante III chose to remain silent about the name of the vaccine that the president’s security detail received, but claimed it was one of the safest.
Duterte asked During not to appear in any investigation.
“Don’t obey the summons. I order you to stay at the barracks,” he said.
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