Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana assured the military will “actively assist” the Department of Health (DOH) as the arrival of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine approaches. (Hey, give the simple present tense a chance instead of always using the present progressive.
“Considering po na strategically deployed tayo, kami po’y aktibong tutulong sa DOH sa pag-roll-out ng bakuna, at ang ating mga doctors, nurses, and even ang mga sasakyan natin, both sa lupa, himpapawid at sa dagat ay gagamitin natin for that purpose (Considering that we are strategically deployed, we will actively assist the DOH in the roll-out of the vaccine. Our doctors, nurses, and even our land, air, and sea vehicles will be used for that purpose).”
The new AFP Chief stated only 25% of the military is pre-selected or designated for vaccination to give way to others n the priority list. He hopes the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) will not interfere in the transport of the vaccine, especially in light of President Rodrigo R. Duterte appeal to the group regarding the vaccine distribution.
“Diyan natin makikita po kung talaga they are human, because ang gagawin po natin is humanitarian activity tapos i-disrupt nila so makita ng taumbayan na talagang salot sila ng ating lipunan (By that we can see if they are really human, because what we are going to do is a humanitarian activity then if they are going to disrupt it, the public will really see that they are pests in the community).”
Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly secure the supply of the vaccine once it arrives
Report from Bea Bernardo
