Duterte to NPAs: Stop fighting for a while and get vaccinated for COVID-19 | Inquirer News

Duterte to NPAs: Stop fighting for a while and get vaccinated for COVID-19

By: - Reporter / @KAguilarINQ
/ 12:16 PM July 31, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — New People’s Army (NPA) rebels can only get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) once it becomes available if they will lay down their arms for a while and let the military vaccinate them, President Rodrigo Duterte said.

“Ang mga NPA, papabakunahan ko ba? If you stop fighting for a while during the period or until December, kasi my soldiers will be busy monitoring, supervising, ‘wag lang niyong galawin, puwede kayong sumali, pumila doon,” Duterte said in a taped address aired Friday.

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(The NPA, will I vaccinate them?  If you stop fighting for a while during the period or until December, since my soldiers will be busy monitoring, supervising, just don’t fight them, you may join and line up for the vaccine.)

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But Duterte noted this does not mean there is a unilateral ceasefire, but only “a matter of humanity.”

“As a matter of humanity, cause it is not our money and because you are a Filipino, sabihin ko sa military, palusutin na ninyo,” Duterte said.

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(As a matter of humanity, cause it is not our money and because you are a Filipino, I will tell the military to let you get vaccinated.)

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“Post-COVID na tayo mag-away ulit. Hindi ito unilateral ceasefire. I am just telling you, stop it and allow the normal process of helping the country,” he went on.

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(Let’s just return to fighting after COVID. This is not a unilateral ceasefire.  I am just telling you, stop it and allow the normal process of helping the country.)

Duterte said he wants the military to lead the COVID-19 vaccination once it becomes available.

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Poor families receiving aid from the government, middle-income earners, and uniformed personnel will be prioritized in getting the COVID-19 vaccine, Duterte said.

The President also expressed optimism that things will go “back to normal” by December as he felt confident that China will give the Philippines priority should it produce a vaccine against COVID-19.

/MUF
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TAGS: COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccine, NPA, Rodrigo Duterte

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