By NICOLE-ANNE C. LAGRIMAS, GMA News Published January 22, 2021 5:35pm The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday that Philippine transactions with international partners to secure COVID-19 vaccines did not have political strings attached to them. "Allow me to convey the assurances that our transactions on vaccine supply with global partners at the bilateral and multilateral levels do not have strings attached or bearing any quid pro quo of any sovereign territorial consideration," Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Eric Gerardo Tamayo said at a Senate hearing. "We can assure that in the particular case of the donation from China, at no time did the China side even hint at tying the vaccine donation to any consideration. Vaccine diplomacy would at best be an expression of goodwill and solidarity with the Philippines during this time of the pandemic."