Nico Salva says sorry for controversial tweet on P10M vaccine reward

Meralco Bolts forward Nico Salva. INQUIRER PHOTO/TRISTAN TAMAYO

MANILA, Philippines–Meralco Bolts forward Nico Salva on Thursday apologized for posting a tweet that drew the ire of netizens who found it insensitive and offensive.

Reacting to President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement of a P10 million reward for any Filipino who discovers a vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Salva tweeted that that amount “won’t even buy you a house.”

Salva cleared that the tweet, which has been deleted,  was meant to stress that the initial bounty just wasn’t enough a reward.

“I would like to apologize to anyone that may have been hurt with my previous tweet. It was not meant to be taken literally. The statement is an exaggeration to emphasize that for a vaccine that will save lives 10M is not enough,” Salva wrote on Twitter.

“I know times are hard right now I am aware of that. I am not trying to lambast or belittle anyone with that post. Who am I to do that? I, myself don’t even have that amount. We are all fighting against Covid & doing whatever we can.”

“To me, if someone, whoever it may be finds a cure, they should be recognized as a hero and be compensated more than 10M. That is my only point. I am on the side of whoever finds a cure. I tried to emphasize it by that statement which did not translate well. I hope I’m able to explain myself well. Stay safe! God bless!”

In a taped public address aired Friday, Duterte hiked the reward to P50 million.