Thread by @cnnphilippines

THREAD: Health Secretary Francisco Duque III joins the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum. He is also joined by other DOH officials | LIVE bit.ly/3nDVWFj

Updates by our digital producer @laratyan

Duque addresses criticisms on his role in the delayed deal to buy Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines: The DOH acted promptly and judiciously in signing the Pfizer CDA

Duque on UK travel ban: We cannot have another factor in the transmission rate of COVID-19 bit.ly/38vya82

Duque: Tumataas ang kaso ngunit hindi pa huli ang lahat, maaari pa itong mapigilan. We are not defenseless.

Duque says the government is not only trying to secure vaccine supplies, but also working to restore the public's trust in vaccines

Duque on Pfizer vaccine deal: There was no 'dropping of the ball.' Ang ginawa natin due diligence.

Was the Philippines supposed to receive 10 million doses of Pfizer vaccines by January 2021, as claimed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin?

Health Chief Duque: Kapag high-level discussions, agreements, or commitments, there is documentation. Walang ganon.

Duque reads a letter supposedly sent by PH Ambassador to US Babe Romualdez on bungled Pfizer deal: It is okay because we were not ready to receive them anyway

Duque on the failed Pfizer deal revealed by Locsin: Masakit sa akin. Sana napagusapan. That's how professional governance works.

Duque says he is willing to attend the planned legislative inquiry of the Senate Committee of the Whole on the government’s plans on rolling out COVID-19 vaccines

Duque on Singapore getting Asia's first Pfizer vaccine doses: Ang liit ng kanilang requirement. First world iyan. Ang cold storage, hindi sila mahihirapan.

PH envoy Romualdez previously said the country's Pfizer purchase was delayed because 'other countries got ahead of us like Singapore' bit.ly/3pnQlnb

Amb. Romualdez refutes he sent the letter read by Duque during the forum: "Never sent him a letter. That’s totally false!"

Duque says he received word from FDA Director General Eric Domingo that "Pfizer is already positioned to apply for EUA"

Duque on completion of 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving from UK: Baka ang viral load ay tumaas na lamang sa huli

Amb. Romualdez says Duque must have quoted one of his interviews when he read the letter

Is there bad blood between Duque and Locsin over statements on the Pfizer deal?

Duque: As a professional, trabaho na lang tayo. We move forward. We have too much on our plate. We cannot spend time bickering, countering statements.

Duque: Ang 2020 is the most difficult year in the history of DOH. Wala naman akong sama ng loob, lahat ng mundo pinaiyak ng COVID-19. Pero hindi tayo nagpatinag.