Duterte appeals to rebels

PRESIDENT DUTERTE appealed to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) not to hamper the deliveries of Covid-19 vaccines, particularly in the far-flung areas where rebels are battling security forces, as the country gears towards mass vaccination campaign against the deadly disease.

“I am appealing to the Communist Party of the Philippines, ‘yung pinaka-umbrella, I don’t consider ‘yung mga NDF-NDF pati NPA. The Communist Party of the Philippines must guarantee that the vaccines in the course of their — being transported to areas where there are no city health officers or medical persons na huwag ninyong galawin ang medisina,” Duterte said.

“As I have said, the money belongs to the Filipino people. The credit goes to no one. Sa inyo ito mga taong Pilipino, pera ninyo ito. So natural lang na kayong mga members ng Communist Party of the Philippines and the allied, NPA, NDF or whatever, kindly observe the rules of humanity,” he added.

Duterte expressed concern that the rebels might sabotage the government vaccination campaign similar to what they did when the government distributed relief goods and cash assistance during the lockdowns last year. “Baka maulit kagaya itong mga pera, ‘yung mga Pantawid na pag-deliver ini-intercept ninyo,” he said.

The government aims to vaccinate about 70 million Filipinos this year. It expects to receive 5.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the first quarter of 2021. Some 117,000 doses of vaccines, manufactured by America’s Pfizer Inc., will be delivered to the Philippines this month.

Marco Valbuena, a CPP spokesman, said the NPA will ensure that transportation of Covid-19 vaccines will be provided a humanitarian corridor for safe and unimpeded passage in guerrilla base and zones.

“It is a matter of principle for the NPA to respect all humanitarian undertakings that benefit the masses. We strongly suggest that the transportation, distribution and inoculation drive of Covid-19 vaccines especially in the interior areas be handled by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Philippine Red Cross and other civilian humanitarian agencies whose personnel are properly trained and who have the facilities to undertake such missions. Non-Red cross vehicles that will be used as Covid-19 vaccine transporters must be clearly and properly marked with a red cross over white background,” Valbuena said.

“We strongly suggest that Covid-19 vaccines not be transported in AFP military vehicles, especially those which are not properly marked and carrying armed soldiers. Over the past year, the AFP has been carrying out combat and psy-war operations behind the veil of implementing Covid-19 restrictions. Using AFP to transport and to handle vaccines will not encourage people to be vaccinated especially in many areas in the countryside where people are traumatized by military garrisoning of their communities and helicopter gunships firing missiles,” he added. 

Duterte has previously ordered an all-out war against the communist rebels and even encouraged the formation of a hit squad that will hunt and kill rebel leaders. (Mindanao Examiner)

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