AFP chief-of-staff, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana. (Screenshot from Laging Handa briefing)
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said all of its assets are ready to help the Department of Health (DOH) in the rollout of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines in the country.
"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 AFP units are strategically deployed nationwide, we will be actively helping the DOH in the rollout of the vaccines, and our doctors, nurses along with all transport assets, land, air, and sea, will be used for that purpose)," AFP chief-of-staff, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said in a Laging Handa briefing.
Sobejana said only 25 percent of the AFP personnel will be vaccinated once the Covid-19 vaccines arrive to give way to the country's priority sectors which include medical front-liners, senior citizens, and persons with co-morbidities.
Meanwhile, he said the communist movement's non-interference with the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines would prove that they are humans.
"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 (This will show whether they are really human, because what we are doing is a humanitarian activity and then they will disrupt it, if they do so, our countrymen will see what real scourges of society they are)," Sobejana added.
This came as President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to the communist rebels not to hamper the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccines.
Should the communist terrorists decide to disrupt the government's vaccination plans, he said the AFP still has 75 percent of its personnel to ensure the security of the people being vaccinated.
Meanwhile, AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) should not delay the passage of the vaccines as it is not in the best interest of the Filipino people.
"In the best interest of life, welfare, and well-being of fellow Filipinos, the CPP-NPA should not sound chivalrous about allowing the passage without delay of vaccines in all parts of the country," he added.
Arevalo said the communist terrorists should have done the same in many instances in the past instead of killing military personnel who were both security and workhorses in bringing relief goods to calamity-stricken Filipinos in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
"While we hope that Mr. (Marco) Valbuena (CPP spokesperson) can make good his commitment, it’s not up for him to dictate which vehicles to use if he cannot provide any alternative; and if the only ones available and can perform the tasks best are the military's sea, air, and land vehicles. Those assets are there, after all, to cater to the interest and welfare of the people we are constitutionally mandated to protect and serve," he added
Arevalo also urged the CPP-NPA not to take advantage of the pandemic to salvage their reputation that they vastly eroded, or attempt to build an image that is in stark contrast with what they are doing.
"They should instead cooperate by simply allowing the government to pass and bring the vaccines to our needy Kababayans," he added.
Arevalo also asked the CPP-NPA to stop their propaganda against the AFP which, unlike them, has proven its commitment—time and again—by innumerable selfless acts during calamities and disasters, pandemics, and other health emergencies.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana, in an interview with "Teleradyo", said the police force is now readying its medical force to augment the country's health professionals in the nationwide vaccination campaign.
This includes 2,705 medical reserve force (MRF) members nationwide and 288 personnel from the PNP national headquarters, according to PNP deputy chief for administration, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.
He added that this will only require training and coordination between the PNP and the DOH. (with reports from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
