MANILA – Veering away from the health department and the pandemic task force’s initial plan, President Rodrigo Duterte wants police officers, military personnel, and the poor prioritized in the government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine rollout.
“Yung lahat sabi ko una ‘yung mga mahirap. Iyon talagang mga mahirap na isang tuka, isang kahig. Unahin ko ‘yon pati ‘yung uniformed service kasi eh kung paano kung magkasakit itong lahat. Paano — how can we function a government with a sick soldier or policeman in your midst,” Duterte said in a speech at Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Headquarters in Sulu, President Duterte
Duterte added that he will talk to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to include soldiers’ families in the vaccination program.
“So libre ‘to. Para hindi kayo mag-worry kung nandiyan na ano kayang mangyari. Eh ano ito — this is a very vicious microbe,” he added.
“The year ahead will bring our military many opportunities and challenges. Just remember that no matter how hard things may get, your government will always be there to support your family and your— the families by ensuring their well-being above else,” he further said.
Malacañang previously said that nearly 25 million Filipinos composed of frontline health workers, the poor and uniformed personnel will be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
In December 2020, members of the Presidential Security Group received a COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm even as it has yet to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration. /PN
