By Nora Soriño

ILIGAN City ― In a rare message heard over the air lanes a few days ago, city mayor Celso G Regencia appealed to residents here to have themselves vaccinated.

This is so, he said, in order that we will be free to go around and ride in public transports, go inside malls, churches, and others come Christmas time. “We will be 100% free, come the new year of 2022,” he said, even as he cautioned everybody not to believe those fake news like becoming zombies after getting vaccinated.

But, there is a big “but” to this appeal. For in his favorite radio station one can also hear the “evils” of getting vaccinated. For example, this is Dr. Robert Malone. An American virologist and immunologist, he is said to have written several books. This is all pointed out by some anchorman in this said radio station, his favorite. To note this particular station does not allow statements contrary to this LGU.

Yet it allows anti-vaxxers to hold sway there every Saturday morning for one hour to talk about the “'evils” of getting vaccinated.

And rightly so, this Dr. Malone is reported to have said.

There’s also a Dr. Paul McCollough who is reported to have said by this anchor in a said radio station which is the mayor's favorite, and maybe this LGU owns as many suspect, some bad things about this Covid vaccines.

A search on this latter doctor reveals that he is of this belief that if one gets vaccinated, he is “5 times more likely to die of it than of Covid!”

And lately, this particular program called “Punto Bandera” talked of a Nicanor Perlas. A letter which is said to consist of 86 pages has been sent to Pres. Duterte “to cease and desist” on its present Covid response which among others “coerce” people in having themselves vaccinated. It advocates “natural immunity” and not this:vaccine-induced” immunity. This letter, the anchor said had furnished copies to many LGU officials all over the country.

The anchor then at one instance said that the “dengvaxia scandal is just swept under the rug.”

So through all this, there’s that suspicion that CGR himself “has not been vaccinated.” Although his rabid supporters say with feelings that “he is!”

“No, he’s not!” say those who are at the other side of the fence. Thus the issue has morphed into a political one.

So people here are waiting for such a declaration. Even a statement without feelings will do. From CGR himself. As in “I …. am…ah…vaccinated.”

Oh, I remember. Regarding this “zombie” thing associated with this “vaccine” joke. I heard two friends analyzing the difference between some American “zombie” from a Korean one. They were of the opinion that an American “zombie” drags his foot so he walks slowly, to the relief of his would-be victims.

While the Korean “zombie” runs very fast, hahaha.

But here we are. People are still asking: What’s the real score mayor, are you vaccinated? Or not? Or, do you plan to get vaccinated if at the moment you haven’t?

(Email: norasorino2@gmail.com)