The Philippines has pledged to donate vaccines against COVID-19 to Myanmar after a significant increase in its infections following a coup that toppled its democratically elected civilian government in February.
On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. revealed that the Philippines made this vow during a summit among Southeast Asian countries.
“Among foreign donors, we alone spoke up to provide vaccines to Myanmar, which is under the triple scourge of dictatorship, repression and the pandemic. We stipulated that vaccine assistance to Myanmar not be used as a weapon for submission to dictatorial rule,” Locsin said during the DFA's proposed budget hearing.
“I said, vaccines will not be used to lure suspected critics of the junta. In short, vaccine followed by incarceration, jail after coming forward to be jabbed," he added.
Locsin didn't further disclose any more details as to the number of vaccine doses and what brand the country will donate to embattled Myanmar.
This comes after the country's capital city continuously faces scarcity in its COVID-19 doses.
The Philippines has repeatedly pressed for the release of detained Myanmar civil leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other elected leaders in the country.
