MANILA, Philippines — Members of the New People’s Army (NPA) may avail of the COVID-19 vaccine for free once it becomes available in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday.
“If they want to get their shots free, they can always line up, and I will ask now the military [and] police to be forgiving,” the President said in a televised address which discusses the government’s response to medical workers’ plight.
But Duterte said the fight between government forces and the communist rebels would still be in effect.
“If they are waiting in line there, without firearms, just to get shots, give it to them. After that, you go home and fight,” he added. “I want you to stay healthy because my soldiers are very, very healthy, and they should be getting the first shots of the vaccine should we acquire them in due time.”
As of Sunday, the Department of Health reported 103,185 total COVID-19 infections, including 65,557 recoveries and 2,059 deaths.
/atm