Army officer offers COVID vaccines to NPA rebels

A military commander has offered to give vaccines to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People's Army (NPA) and National Democratic Front (NDF) after eight alleged rebels who either got killed, wounded, or captured in recent Bukidnon clashes tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Major Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of 4th Infantry Division (4ID), said the military would be willing to give COVID-19 vaccines to the NPA upon learning that a rebel who got killed, another who was injured, and six who were captured in separate armed encounters in San Fernando and Valencia towns turned out to be COVID-positive.

"I want to inform them that COVID-19 spares no one – soldiers, police, officials, ordinary citizens, and even members of the CPP-NPA-NDF. We are willing to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the CTG [communist-terrorist groups] if they will decide to abandon the armed struggle and cooperate with us," Brawner said on Sunday night, September 12.

Accordingly, the 88th Infantry Battalion (88IB) clashed with members of the Guerilla Front Malayag, Sub-Regional Committee 2 (SRC), North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) in Brgy. Mabuhay, San Fernando, Valencia last Sept. 8 where four NPAs were killed and 10 others were captured.

Of those killed, alias Jillian tested positive for COVID-19 in an antigen test

"[Jillian] tested positive in an antigen test so we conducted an RT-PCR test for confirmation. We're still waiting for the results," Maj. Francisco Garello, 4ID spokesperson, told the Manila Bulletin in Filipino.

Three of the captured NPAs also tested positive and were identified as alias Taburok, female, 17; alias Manman; and alias Daniel. (Martin A. Sadongdong)