Gapay, other senior AFP officials not yet vaccinated vs. COVID-19, spox says

The chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as other high ranking military officials have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, AFP spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo said Tuesday. 

"Definitely wala pa pong ibang miyembro ng Armed Forces of the Philippines, not even the Chief of Staff (General Gilbert Gapay), not even me, or not even high ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Arevalo told CNN Philippines. 

"Let's just take into account that this particular vaccine was given only to select members of the Presidential Security Group," he added. 

Arevalo said he is not privy about the details of the vaccination of the PSG personnel such as when they were vaccinated or where the vaccine was sourced.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the vaccines administered to PSG personnel were probably donated. He did not elaborate who or which country had donated the COVID-19 vaccines.

According to Arevalo, the Philippine military understands the sentiments of the public as regards why PSG personnel obtained the first shots against the virus. 

However, the AFP spokesperson maintained that the move was necessary as part of the duty of the PSG to protect President Rodrigo Duterte. 

"This is necessary and essential, owing to the particular mission and function of this unit," Arevalo said. 

The PSG defended the inoculation of Duterte's close-in security detail against COVID-19, noting that it was the group's primordial task to ensure that the President was healthy so he could serve Filipinos.

The inoculation happened despite the absence of any vaccine duly registered with the Food and Drug Administration. 

FDA Director General Eric Domingo on Tuesday said it is now investigating the inoculation of some military and Cabinet members with unauthorized COVID-19 vaccines. —KG, GMA News