AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay. (File photo)
MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay, has ordered an investigation on the inoculation of some members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) with a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine which is yet to be approved by the country's Food and Drug Administration.
"Gen. Gilbert Gapay has ordered the conduct of a thorough investigation on the factual circumstances surrounding this incident," AFP spokesperson, Marine Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo, said in a statement forwarded to reporters late on New Year's Eve.
He, however, said the AFP is standing by the previous statement of PSG commander, Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante, that President Rodrigo Duterte’s close-in security had themselves inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine to reduce the possibility of being the possible source of the virus that could infect the President.
"However, we maintain our previous declaration that the Chief-of-Staff of the AFP was not part of, or privy about the circumstances involving the procurement of these vaccines, its source, and the administration thereof to PSG troopers," Arevalo said. (PNA)
