THE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) vowed on Tuesday, February 9, to support the government vaccination program but it urged the use of Philippine Red Cross (PRC) vehicles for its delivery instead of military vehicles.
"It is a matter of principle for the NPA to respect all humanitarian undertakings that benefit the masses. Thus, 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," CPP information officer Marco Valbuena said in a statement.
The group, however, "strongly" suggested for the government to tap the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Philippine Red Cross and other civilian humanitarian agencies for its distribution and actual vaccination, as they were properly trained to conduct such operations and in order to encourage people to get inoculated.
It said the vehicles that will transport the vaccines should be marked with red cross with white background.
"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 psywar operations behind the veil of implementing Covid-19 restrictions," said Valbuena.
In his public address on Monday, February 8, 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to the CPP to keep its hands off the government's vaccination program, particularly by allowing its free and safe delivery to the people.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said Valbuena is not in the position to dictate the government especially if he will not be able to provide for the alternatives.
"In the best interest of life, welfare, and well-being of fellow Filipinos, the CPP-NPA should not sound chivalrous about allowing the passage without delay of vaccines in all parts of the country," he said.
"As a matter of fact, they should have done so in many instances in the past instead of killing military personnel who were both security and workhorses in bringing relief goods to our calamity-stricken Kababayans in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs)," he added. (SunStar Philippines)