In the Philippines where hundreds and thousands of health workers brave the threats of Covid-19 everyday, the police, military, and politicians are on top of the government’s priorities. 

“I know some from the Cabinet and from the presidential security guards,” this is what Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said when he was asked to confirm if there are government officials who have already received the vaccine against Covid-19. 

There are also members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who have taken the Covid-19 vaccines ahead of the other Filipinos according to army Chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana.

“Of course, our President is or commander-in-chief sa AFP. I should say it is from the chain of command of the Armed Forces,” Sobejana said, indicating that it was President Rodrigo Duterte who authorized the vaccination himself.

With these reports loitering around social media, the Filipino people are left with a question: Would the government prioritize our healthcare workers the way it prioritizes its allies? 

In a virtual press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque justified the soldiers’ need for vaccines.

“Opo, narinig ko rin iyan ‘no. At ang sabi nga po niya [Duterte], prayoridad po niya talaga ang mga sundalo dahil sila po ang nagpapatupad po ng batas. So nagagalak naman po ako para doon sa mga sundalong naturukan na, at mukha naman pong walang mga side effects so ibig sabihin ay talagang nariyan na po ang bakuna. At ang tingin ko, ang mensahe ni Presidente ay huwag mawalan ng pag-asa dahil nandiyan na po ang bakuna at ito nga daw po ay Sinopharm – Tsino na bakuna,” Roque said. 

(Yes, I also heard that there are already soldiers that were given vaccines from China. And he [Duterte] said that we should prioritize our soldiers for they implement the law. So I am happy for those who have already been given the vaccine, we can also see that there are no side effects. I think the President’s message is ‘don’t lose hope, the Sinopharm vaccine from China is there,’)

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo, Duterte’s news that some members of the military already received a vaccine “caught him by surprise.” He also denied that the government already approved any vaccine for emergency use. 

“You can imagine my surprise. I was there and of course we have been hearing rumors about people bringing them in, peddling them, and I’ve been asking my agents to run after them. Of course hearing it officially that some people have received it, it was very surprising,” Domingo said in an interview on ANC. 

As of this post, the national government has yet to provide immediate and concrete solutions to the country’s Covid-19 problems. The vaccine is also reported to be made available on the market in the middle of 2021.