The Armed Forces of the Philippines stated that they are not aware of any ongoing vaccination for military personnel, stating that they are still in process of getting details.
Marine Major General Edgard Arevalo, AFP Spokesperson and Commander of AFP’s Education Training and Doctrine Command, released an official statement
“The AFP is not aware of COVID-19 inoculation made to military personnel. We do not have an AFP Leadership-sanctioned vaccination. We are getting details,” read the statement.
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AFP also extended their words of gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte who declared that soldiers will be among the first to get inoculated with the vaccine when it arrives in the Philippines.
“We are thankful to the President when he declared that he will include soldiers in the vaccination priority being front-liners in the fight against the Pandemic,” read the statement.
“We commit to be actively supporting the President and relevant agencies of the government in the roll-out of the vaccine to our Kababayans who needs it most but do not have the access or means to pay for it,” it added.
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The new official statement distances the AFP’s viewpoint to that of the Philippine Army Chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana’s earlier message that some military men have been already injected with the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I know of some po but I could just not disclose the unit. I know po, personally I know na mayroon nang nabakunahan sa hanay po ng Armed Forces. Mayroon naman po sigurong paliwanag ‘yung mga doktor na nagbigay ng bakuna sa kanila at hindi po sila nag-alinlangan,” said Sobejana.
As of posting time, the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to approve any COVID-19 vaccine in the country.
Vaccine czar, Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., advised that it is dangerous and is against the law to receive or reserve vaccine shots prior to FDA’s approval.
