Philippine health ministry says no conditions set to access U.S. vaccines

MANILA, Sept 11 (Reuters) - The Philippines will have access
to potential COVID-19 vaccines being developed by U.S. firms
without any strings attached, the health ministry said on
Friday, after the presidential spokesman had linked the
pardoning of a U.S. Marine to ensuring access.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said none of
the U.S. vaccine makers the government is in talks with had set
conditions, adding all potential vaccines will undergo a
regulatory process to ensure safety and efficacy.
"No conditions were provided or given to us," Vergeire told
a news conference.
The Philippines, which is among a number of developing
countries with big populations trying to secure a supply of
COVID-19 vaccine, has met with U.S. vaccine manufacturers
Moderna Inc MRNA.O and Pfizer Inc PFE.N .
It has also held discussions with China and Russia, which
are among countries leading the global race to develop
coronavirus inoculations.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said on Thursday that
President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to pardon a U.S. marine
convicted of killing a transgender woman nearly six years ago
may have stemmed from his desire to ensure access to coronavirus
vaccines. But Roque reiterated on Friday that he was merely
stating a personal opinion. Pemberton was serving a six- to 10-year sentence for killing
Jennifer Laude near a former U.S. navy base in 2014. He will
likely be released from a military jail and deported this
weekend, the Bureau of Immigration said.
Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez
said U.S. officials were "surprised" by the pardon. While they
inquired about Pemberton, they did not push for his release, he
told ANC News channel.
The Philippines has the most COVID-19 cases in Southeast
Asia, with more than 248,000 confirmed infections.
The Southeast Asian country plans to buy 40 million doses
worth $400 million for 20 million people, about a fifth of its
107 million population.