What Duterte Said in His Weekly Speech (Feb. 8)

Here's a recap of what President Rodrigo Duterte said in his weekly speech to the nation. This one was delivered on Monday, Feb. 8.

• Duterte asks if the COVID-19 vaccines that will arrive in the Philippines offer protection against virus variants.
• CONTEXT: Feb. 15 is Target Start Date for COVID Vaccination in PH, Palace Says
• Duterte says schools can be used as COVID-19 vaccination sites if facilities are lacking.
• CONTEXT: Who's on the COVID-19 Vaccine Priority List?
• Duterte says it will be "nice" to see the military "helping out" in the COVID-19 immunization program.
• COVID-19 vaccination czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. says the government can use military camps as immunization sites.
• Duterte tells communist rebels to "kindly observe the rules of humanity," saying they should allow vaccines to be transported safely.
• Duterte tells all government officials to leave the handling of COVID-19 vaccines to the inter-agency task force on pandemic response, saying "they call the shots there, nobody else."
• Galvez discusses the priority list for COVID-19 vaccines which includes health frontliners, the elderly, and essential workers.
• CONTEXT: COVID-19 Vaccine: Why Frontliners are First in Line
• Health Sec. Francisco Duque III says the COVID-19 situation of the Philippines is better compared to other countries.
• Duterte lauds Congress for its support for the country's COVID-19 response and vaccination program.
• Duterte says he has no problem if Congress grants Lopez-owned ABS-CBN a franchise but notes that he will not allow the network to "operate" until the Lopezes pay their taxes.