There is confusion over why former Defense Secretary and 2010 presidential candidate Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro had his full anti-COVID19 vaccination in Davao City.
Teodoro had his first jab on June 3, during a “birthday visit” to Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and had recently received his second jab this week in a vaccination site in Mintal.
While social media is rife to point this out as politicking for the 2022 elections, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had a defense on why Gibo came all the way from public obscurity since 2010 to get a jab in Davao City.
Duterte-Carpio said during her Monday’s Special Hour program on the city government’s Disaster Radio that the city government is inviting national personalities and politicians for “star power” to boost the vaccination program.
The mayor said the city government has extended its invitation to other national personalities.
But when asked if she has gotten the jab, Mayor Duterte Carpio again said “no comment”. An unusual response given that some city mayors such as Isko Moreno has publicized his vaccination to raise public confidence on the vaccine.
But netizens and critics see Teodoro’s appearance in Davao as politicking. Teodoro’s travel companion, Camarines Sur Congressman Rolando Abaya, posted these inoculation on his Facebook page where he declaring Gibo as “my vice president” in build up for a Sara-Gibo tandem for 2022.
Teodoro was Congressman of Tarlac’s first district from 1998 to 2007 before being appointed as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s defense secretary from 2007 to 2009. He bolted the Nationalist People’s Coalition headed by his uncle, the late former Marcos crony and San Miguel Corporation head Eduardo ‘Danding’ Cojuangco, to run as president under Arroyo’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD. He came in fourth place in the presidential race, while his cousin, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III won.
Teodoro has said in interviews that he is an independent, and would support Sara Duterte if the latter decides to run for the presidency.
Meanwhile, the city government will be launching this month a website dedicated for COVID-19 information and dissemination program to provide Davaoenos with information about vaccines and protocols.
Duterte-Carpio admitted that the city government face challenges with vaccine hesistancy, as she points out residents are influenced by religious beliefs or by misinformation passed through social media or gossip.
Davao City has fully vaccinated 52,038 persons as of July 4. The city continues to face a surge with 4,009 COVID-19 active cases.
