“First is sa COVID. Sabi ni Secretary Duque kung talagang if we go by the rules, lahat-lahat na, it will be on April.

I just had a talk with the Ambassador of Russia, the outgoing, and we had a serious one-on-one talk and they said that Russia is coming in. Mayroon lang sigurong tinatapos and they would want to establish here. Gagawa sila ng planta — pharmaceutical, pharmaceutical lang naman, and ang vaccine papasok rin sila.

Para sa akin, it’s either China or Russia okay na ako. Wala akong… Sabi nila ang Pfizer, Moderna, ‘yung western, US. Okay rin ‘yan kasi may proseso nga eh. They are using the same protocol in arriving at a certain finding sa COVID using the same germ, using the same — so wala ng iba. So magsabi lusot ‘yung iba unless there is really a faulty procedure. Pero kung na-inject na sa mga tao at nabigyan naman ng protection, ang lalakas na ng loob eh kasi may ano na, puwede na.

But this I can assure you again na nakahanap na ako ng pera. I have the money already for the vaccine but hahanap pa ako ng maraming pera because you know there are now 113 million Filipinos.

And to me, ideally, all should have the vaccine without exception. Lahat, para mayroon kayong lifetime — whatever, but it can provide immunity. Panlaban ho ‘yung body, ‘yung armor mo, ‘yung sundalo mo sa katawan mo malabanan siya. And that is how the vaccine works.

Again, ang mauna ang mga mahirap na walang pera, hindi makabayad. Ang listahan ‘yung doon sa Pantawid iyon, we’re giving the — the help, the assistance, giving the help, the assistance of monetary sa mga tao. May listahan ‘yan, ‘yon ang sundin. Then pagkatapos to the public.

At — but para walang taguan, I want my soldiers pati ‘yung security forces ng bayan mauna rin kasabay ng first batch kasi kailangan ko ng mga sundalo at pulis na ready, healthy at walang COVID. And they are really vital to the security of the state for which reason they should be the first also.

Tayo, kaming mga civilian puwede tayong ma-last. Pero kung mag-offer… Ako nagahintay ako tawagin ako ng China or Russia. I’ll be glad to open up my sleeves and, “sige,” kasi may kumpyansa nga ako.

So those of you who are asking me kung safe ba itong China? Well, I can say that China is a modern country and it has all the wherewithal to make its country — whose integrity is fully protected by its achievement.”

~ President Rodrigo Duterte during Talk to the People on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public briefing, October 14, 2020