The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will no longer push through with the scheduled fact-finding investigation on the inoculation of some members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) with an unregistered COVID-19 vaccine, a military spokesperson bared Tuesday.
Major General Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, made the announcement after President Duterte called on the Congress "not to tinker" with the affairs of the PSG.
"Nakapagsalita na po ang ating Pangulo at sinabi po niya, although hindi naman po siya directly directed sa Armed Forces of the Philippines, we take cue from that because he is the Commander in Chief of all armed forces. Malinaw po ang kanyang sinasabi at 'yun naman po ang paninindigan ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas (The President has spoken and from what he said, although it was not directed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we take cue from that because he is the Commander in Chief of all armed forces. What he said is clear and it is the stand of the Armed Forces of the Philippines)," Arevalo said in a "Laging Handa" press briefing.
Arevalo said it was AFP Chief General Gilbert Gapay who called off the investigation on how the soldiers acquired and administered to themselves the unregistered COVID-19 vaccine.
On Monday night, Duterte took a stand on the controversy involving the vaccination of some members of the PSG who are providing security to him.
"I would like to call on the Congress na hindi naman ako nakikiusap (I am not really pleading). Ang ano ko lang dito na diretso na salita (What I want to say directly to you), do not tinker with the PSG. I am telling you as a President, it's a matter of self-preservation," he said.
"I will not elaborate on it but do not force my hand to meddle into this affair because maybe I will not -- I am not so keen about allowing Durante and the rest of the PSG to testify," he added.
There is a scheduled Senate inquiry on the vaccination of the PSG members, according to Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
But Sotto later clarified that the inquiry will instead focus on the government's COVID-19 vaccination program.
Aside from the Senate, the Department of Justice earlier directed the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the vaccination of the PSG members.
Meamwhile, Arevalo denied speculations that AFP Chief Gapay received a call from Malacanang to withdraw the planned investigation after Duterte made his remarks.
"Malinaw naman po ang sinabi ng ating Pangulo na walang pangangailangan, na hindi na niya pinapayuhan na dumalo sa imbestigasyon ang miyembro ng Presidential Security Group (The President's instruction is clear and there is no need.. he is not advising the members of the Presidential Security Group to attend the investigation). They will invoke, if ever summoned and they appear, to remain silent," the military spokesman said.
According to Arevalo, Gapay's instruction to withdraw the probe has already been relayed to the AFP Inspector General on Tuesday morning.
The planned investigation was supposed to help shed light on how the soldiers acquired the vaccines and how they administered it into themselves.
Arevalo said the probe was also aimed at helping the AFP craft policies as to the military's acquisition and administration of COVID-19 vaccines once it become available in the country.