Philippine President Duterte Apologizes for Taking Unapproved Sinopharm Jab, Requests China Withdraw Doses

Epoch Times ^ | 05/07/2021 | Frank Yue

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned Filipinos not to follow his example and get the China-made Sinopharm vaccine which has not yet been approved by the country’s health regulator for use against the CCP virus.

Duterte, who was able to get the Sinopharm jab via a compassionate use permit despite the drug not yet being approved, has since asked the Chinese embassy to return 1,000 unused doses that were donated by Beijing.

Following criticism, Duterte told Filipinos, “Don’t follow my steps.”

“It’s dangerous because there are no studies, it might not be good for the body. Just let me be the sole person to receive it.”

Both the president and his security personnel sparked widespread criticism after receiving China-made vaccines against COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

“Let’s just pull them out (of the country), so that there’s no issue,” Duterte said of the Sinopharm doses still in the country.

The 76-year-old leader at first defended his actions, according to local media Rappler, saying it was a “personal request.”

“What was injected in me, it’s the decision of my doctor and all things said, this is my life,” the controversial leader said, before accepting the criticism levelled at him.

“We are sorry for the things you are criticizing us for, we accept responsibility,” he said. “We are sorry, you are right, we are wrong.”

The Philippines is one of the hardest-hit countries in southeast Asia, with a total of more than 1 million infections and more than 16,000 deaths, according to ABS-CBN News.