PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night ordered the withdrawal of China's donation of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine developed by Sinopharm after he was criticized for taking the unregistered drug.

In his pre-recorded public address, Duterte said he has requested Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian to withdraw the donated 1,000 Sinopharm doses amid controversy over his decision to be inoculated with the vaccine yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)