AFP spokesperson, Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo. (File photo)
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday confirmed that members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were the ones who were given the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine.
"Per our inquiry, members of the PSG were the first ones from the AFP who were vaccinated owing to the nature of their mission and function," AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement forwarded to reporters.
Over the weekend, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said that some members of the military were already inoculated with Covid-19 vaccines.
"As the unit primarily tasked to protect and secure the highest official of the land, the PSG will have to ensure that the President is safe from all threats -- including Covid-19," Arevalo said.
Citing the safety of the President equates to national well-being, Arevalo said Duterte's security also includes protecting him and those whom he is constantly exposed to such as the members of his security detail from Covid-19.
Also, Arevalo said the AFP is not privy to the arrangements as to how the vaccines were obtained for the PSG.
"But we have taken cognizance of the fact that the members of the PSG under Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante has taken a bold step to try the vaccine to protect the President.
In a Laging Handa briefing on Monday, Arevalo said there is no AFP-sanctioned inoculation or vaccination for military personnel.
He added that they are still validating this report which claims that Covid-19 vaccines manufactured by Sinopharm were used to vaccinate some members of the military.
Arevalo said the AFP is very thankful for the President's announcement's that military personnel, as front-liners, are among the first to be vaccinated once an effective and safe vaccine is procured.
He also emphasized AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay's earlier commitment to the Chief Executive that the military will help in the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines once it arrives in the country.
The government earlier said that vaccines will be made available for all especially those in the poor and marginalized sectors.
Earlier, Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, in a radio interview over DWIZ Monday, said that he knew of some personnel in a unit, which he cannot disclose for security reasons, that have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
"I know of some but I could not disclose the unit, I know po personally na meron na pong nabakunahan sa hanay po ng Armed Forces (that there are some in the ranks of the Armed Forces that have been vaccinated already)," he added.
Sobejana said these troops, especially those in the front-lines, were vaccinated to avoid Covid-19 infection.
Sobejana added that those given with vaccines are a mixture of officers and enlisted personnel.
He also noted that the decision to have these troops inoculated came from the "chain of command of the AFP."
No inoculated cops yet
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas said no police officer has been inoculated with any Covid-19 vaccine yet.
“I don't know about that. There is no guidance yet and we will just wait for the instructions from Malacañang and SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año). The President has already made some of his policies so let's just wait and see what the instruction really is. There is no specific instruction, no black and white, no policy on what we will do. We are just preparing when that time comes,),” Sinas told reporters when sought for a comment during his press conference held at Camp Prospero Olivas in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
Sinas also welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte's pronouncement that the police and the military would be prioritized in receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, Sinas said there is ongoing coordination between the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Department of Health and PNP in running after fake Covid-19 vaccines.
“I already talked with the new FDA Director General (Eric Domingo). We will meet again with our people especially those from the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) and the ACG (Anti-Cybercrime Group) because we are worried that there might be fake vaccines. We would finalize the details with the FDA,” he said. (PNA)
