Not once, but twice. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. apologized to Sen. Panfilo Lacson Wednesday evening and on Thursday morning, for statements he made regarding the issue of the government’s vaccination program.
Lacson said Thursday morning that Galvez apologized to him personally during a meeting attended by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
“I accepted his apology. He promised to be more careful in issuing statements,” Lacson said in a statement.
Last Jan. 15, Lacson called out Galvez for statements he made at a Zoom meeting on Jan. 14, where he accused some senators of “demonizing” vaccine developers or “hurting” ongoing negotiations with vaccine makers and suppliers.
During the Senate Committee of the Whole’s second hearing on the issue last Jan. 15, Lacson belied Galvez’s claims that he was allegedly politicizing the issue because of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
According to Lacson, Galvez asked for the meeting through Magalong. The meeting was held Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, Galvez apologized anew at the “Laging Handa” public briefing before noon Thursday, when asked what happened in Wednesday evening’s meeting.
He thanked Sotto, Lacson and dela Rosa for the dinner meeting where he explained the procedures on negotiations for the vaccines.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat po kay Sen. Lacson kasi mayroon din po akong pagkukulang, at ang aking akusasyon na ginagamit yung pulitika ng Senado yung hearing, ako ay nagkamali at I want to make an apology on that,” he said.
