Despite relentless offensives launched by the government against the New People’s Army, its members may still be able to get immunized by the COVID-19 vaccines, says President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19, Duterte assured that the COVID-19 vaccine that the government will procure would also be available to communist rebels, even after he dumped the possibility of forging peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the NPA.
“The vaccine is available to every Filipino citizen, including the communist NPAs. So that you can fight better, you are healthy because I know you will die ‘pag hindi talaga kayo, mamamatay talaga kayo,” Duterte was quoted as saying during the meeting.
“We will make it available to you. In the name of humanity, we will not deny kasi ano yan eh. Just to make you healthy so that you will die ‘pag hindi kayo naghinto sa—you stop.”
In July this year, the President offered COVID-19 vaccines to NPA rebels provided that they stop fighting military troops until the end of the year.
Duterte made the remark as an offshoot of the statement issued by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo who said that doctors and nurses cannot refuse to give the vaccine to NPA rebels.
“Pag pumunta po sa (If they go to the) barangay health center, baka po ‘di naman natin pwedeng i-turn away (we may not be able to turn them away) dahil ‘yun pong ating mga doctor at nurse ay sumumpa sila na lahat ay gagamutin nila at bibigyan nila ng serbisyo (because our doctors and nurses took an oath that they will provide treatment and serve everyone),” he said.
“Kung pumunta po siguro nang kusangloob, baka po kailangan bigyan din natin tulad ng ibang mamamayan (If they go in voluntarily, we may have to serve them just like other citizens).”