The system of distribution for the upcoming Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is underway, prioritizing marginalized Filipinos in accordance with President Rodrigo R. Duterte‘s promise of giving them vaccines for free.
The President has assigned the military as the “implementing arm” of the said distribution.
“I am asking the Armed Forces, General Lorenzana. May Task Force na eh, (There’s already a Task Force) but the implementing arm, military. Itong mga nurse, pulis, lahat ng barangay health workers, pati yung mga doktor (The nurses, police, all barangay health workers and the doctors), they should be there. But [the] overall umbrella, to supervise, must be the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This will remove partisan, favoritism, this will remove petty corruption.”
While the Chief Executive refuses to give access to those involved in illegal drugs, members of the New People’s Army (NPA) may avail of the vaccine but on certain conditions.
“If you stop fighting for a while or until December [because] my soldier would be busy monitoring, supervising. Huwag niyo lang galawin, pwede kayo sumali. Pumila roon, (don’t disrupt them and you can be included. Just line up) and even announce [that] you are NPA, it’s okay. Pagamot ka muna, pa-vaccine ka (Get well, get a vaccine). Hindi ito unilateral ceasefire (This is not unilateral ceasefire). I am just telling you stop it, and allow the normal process of helping the country.”
Report from Mela Lesmoras
