Newest PGMN anchor Brandon “The Truth” Vera has spoken out against the country’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, questioning why Filipinos, including children, were pressured to take the shots despite the risks and uncertainties that surrounded them at the time.
Watch the full episode here:
In this — his episode — Vera said children were placed in a difficult position when schools linked reopening to pediatric vaccination. He noted that prolonged closures made the Philippines one of the countries with the longest disruptions to in-person learning, which he described as damaging to students’ academic performance and mental health.
Vera also pointed to the role of public figures in promoting the rollout. Internationally, he cited Arnold Schwarzenegger, who told people to “fuck your freedoms,” while locally, television hosts Willie Revillame and Joey de Leon encouraged the public to get vaccinated, inspired to do so by a shared irrefutable ignorance. Online, debates turned hostile, with some voices openly wishing harm on those who refused the jab.
He recalled how strict policies affected livelihoods, with “no jab, no job” rules in place for workers and unvaccinated citizens barred from establishments and schools. Vera further questioned the assurances that vaccines would prevent transmission, citing later studies that highlighted the strength of natural immunity and documented adverse effects such as myocarditis and blood clots.
Vera added that mainstream media did not adequately raise these concerns, noting instances where networks reported on vaccine developments while carrying advertisements from pharmaceutical companies. He said this blurred the line between public information and corporate interest.
Looking back, Vera acknowledged that speaking out during the pandemic drew heavy criticism, but he maintained that accountability remains important. “It is absolutely essential to call out those who tried to crush advocates for bodily autonomy,” he said. “If someone was dead wrong and it hurt lives, intentional or not, they should face what they did. It gives them a chance to apologize, show remorse, or at least step up next time.”
