President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ALFRED FRIAS/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The COVID-19 vaccine to be procured by the government will be made available to all Filipinos, including communist rebels, President Rodrigo Duterte said.
“The vaccine is available to every Filipino citizen, including the Communist NPAs [New People’s Army] so that you can fight better and you are healthy because I know that you will die,” Duterte said in a meeting on Saturday with select members of the Cabinet and infectious disease experts.
“We will make [it] available to you. In the name of humanity, we will not deny kasi ano ‘yan eh, pero just to make you healthy so that you will die ‘pag hindi kayo naghinto,” he added.
(Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP)
The President, earlier this month, rejected a ceasefire with communist rebels not only for the holiday season but until the end of his term.
In July, Duterte said NPA rebels can only get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they lay their arms down against military troops.
Sectors to be prioritized for the expected COVID-19 vaccine are indigent citizens, medical frontliners, military and police personnel,
Duterte earlier said that the COVID-29 vaccination drive will prioritize indigent citizens, medical frontliners, military and police personnel.