By Argyll Cyrus Geducos, Genalyn Kabiling, and Chito Chavez  Malacañang on Friday said President Duterte appointed former highranking military leaders in the country's campaign against the COVID-19 because they can get the job done effectively. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN) President Duterte had earlier designated Peace Process Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. as chief implementer of the national campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic. Galvez's appointment came after Duterte named Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año as chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the National Action Plan (NAP) to address the pandemic. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the appointment of the three former high-ranking military men is based on their wellhoned observance of a culture of discipline, obedience to superiors, training in organization, tactical strategies in fighting the enemies of the state, and thorough preparedness in organization. "They are not embroiled in bureaucratic rigmaroles. They abhor useless debates. They are silent workers, not voracious talkers. They act without fanfare. They get things done," he said Friday. Panelo said the strict implementation of the measures established by the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, particularly the quarantine restrictions, is important in the fight against COVID-19. "We need the PNP and the military as they have the discipline, the organization, the manpower and the equipments to implement the measures that the government has established," he said. "They will pursue efficiently and swiftly the emergency measures to end the spread of the deadly virus pursuant to the special powers granted to the President by Congress," he added. "We need men and women trained in the art of warfare," he said. "With high senior former military men at the helm of the implementing organizations, the officers and the rank and file of the PNP and the AFP will necessarily follow the orders coming from them, issued by the Commander-in Chief, without question and with impartiality in the strict implementation of the protocols, guidelines and procedures established by the national government," he added. 100-day action plan The government has readied an initial 100-day action plan, including enhancing the county’s healthcare system, to address the coronavirus pandemic. Presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government aims to "flatten the curve" or stop the spread of the infections and alleviate the suffering of the people amid the “vicious" disease threat. "Nakita natin yung sa historical basis, puwede itong tumagal dahil ito ay isang pandemic. Wala tayong kontrol. Lahat ng mga bansa -- US, China, even Europe -- ay hindi nakapag-prepare kasi nga biglaan ito. (We have seen the historical basis, it may last longer because this is a pandemic. We don't have any control. All countries including the US, China, and even Europe were not able to prepare because this was sudden)," Galvez said over government radio. To quell the spread of the new coronavirus disease, Galvez said the government intends to improve the capacity of the Department of Health (DOH) in terms of resources and logistics. Strengthening the DOH and the volunteers will facilitate effective healthcare for the coronavirus patients, he added. Galvez recognized that the government must swiftly implement measures to address the coronavirus emergency since national survival is at stake. "Our focus is to save humanity. Itong health crisis na ito ay talagang napaka-vicious at highly contaminated. Ang focus namin ngayon is mas mataas ang survival natin (This health crisis is really vicious and highly contaminated. Our focus now is our survival)," he said. The inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases will act like a "war council" to the President amid the coronavirus emergency. He said the IATF will be the policy-making body in dealing with the latest public health emergency. The task force is currently chaired by the Department of Health (DOH) with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) as members. The National Task Force COVID19, on the other hand, shall serve as the operational command to be chaired by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The task force vice chair is Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año. Galvez, former military chief, said he will be the "third man" in the operations command. "I will make sure that all the directives issued, both operational and political, will be implemented by our group," he added. No political color The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the local government unit (LGUs) never to put political color in the distribution of relief packs to the “poorest among the poor’’ as the country is besieged by a national emergency. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año warned that he will have no qualms in having errant barangay officials charged and arrested after receiving reports of numerous malpractices in the distribution of relief goods. He reiterated that the presentation of a voter’s identification card was never a requirement before deserving beneficiaries are given the relief goods. The DILG chief also warned barangay officials who favor their supporters, friends, and relatives over the qualified recipients of relief packs and other forms of government assistance that they stand to face the stiffest penalties. “Wala pong politika sa panahon ng sakuna. Matagal pa ang eleksyon. Serbisyo muna (There is no politics involved here in times of distressed situations. The election is still far away. Let us serve first),” Año said. Año has organized monitoring teams in all the regions of the country to monitor and investigate the conduct of LGU officials including the barangays.