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Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday backed the possible redeployment of police and military personnel to enforce minimum health standards in public places amid rising COVID-19 cases in the country.
Sotto was reacting to the statement by the secretary of the vaccine czar, Carlito Gálvez Jr., who said that police and military personnel may again be dispersed in converging areas, as authorities noted that many Filipinos have become complacent with the security protocols.
“Whatever it takes! I will support the decision of the IATF (Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases,” Sotto told GMA News Online in a text message when asked about Gálvez’s statement.
“Are [privy] to statistics that we do not have, “he added.
The Philippines registered 2,668 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 546,078 cases.
Data from the World Health Organization showed that the Philippines has reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours in the Western Pacific Region.
OCTA Research’s Dr. Guido David also said that daily new COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region may reach 5,000 by March 31, as the projected breeding number may have already risen to 1.8.
Sotto, along with other senators, previously urged the public to strictly follow health protocols amid the growing number of COVID-19 cases.
Sen. Grace Poe, for her part, believes that the rise in COVID-19 cases should be addressed by immediately vaccinating healthcare workers and other priority groups.
“We should get vaccinated faster than the virus can spread. This is taking into account that the supply of the doses donated and purchased by the government will reach the Philippines on time,” he said.
“We have the working group to continue equitable negotiations for the purchase of safe and efficient vaccines, complemented with a smooth implementation of the inoculation program,” he added. – DVM, GMA News
