47 ex-rebels, CAFGUs get Covid-19 vax in Agusan Norte

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 2, 2021): 47 ex-rebels, CAFGUs get Covid-19 vax in Agusan Norte (By Alexander Lopez)

VACCINATED. An Army officer of the 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) assists in the vaccination of one of the 30 Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit and 17 former communist rebels who availed of the government’s Bayanihan, Bakunahan campaign inside the military unit’s headquarters in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte on Wednesday (Dec. 1, 2021). The 23IB also deployed troopers in its areas of responsibility to provide support to the Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 2021 national vaccination activity. (Photo courtesy of 23IB)

At least 30 members of the military’s Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and 17 former rebels from Agusan del Norte have received their coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine shots during the three-day massive Bayanihan, Bakunahan campaign, the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) said Thursday.

In a statement, Lt. Col. Julius Cesar Paulo, the 23IB commander, said the unit opened its headquarters in Barangay Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, for the vaccination of CAFGU members and former rebels on Wednesday, the last day of the November 29 to December 1 National Covid-19 Vaccination Days activity.

Of the 30 CAFGU members, 23 got their booster shots and seven got their first shots of the vaccine.

The 17 former rebels, on the other hand, received their first shots of Covid-19 jabs.

Also on Wednesday, seven officers, 38 enlisted personnel of the 23IB, and two civilians were inoculated with booster shots.

Medical personnel from the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City facilitated the vaccination at the 23IB headquarters.

“The 23IB also deployed its troops to the different towns within its area of responsibility (AOR) to assist the government agencies and local government units during the three-day vaccination campaign,” Paulo said.

He pointed out that 23IB troopers provided support at the vaccination sites in Gingoog City and the town of Magsaysay in Misamis Oriental; the towns of Las Nieves, Buenavista, Nasipit, and Carmen in Agusan del Norte; and Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.

“The 23IB successfully mobilized a wide range of assistance during the three-day activity to include security and manpower support. The unit was able to keep the vaccination activities in its AOR peaceful and orderly,” Paulo said.

He also lauded the militiamen and former communist rebels who availed of the free vaccination program of the government.

“The ‘Bayanihan, Bakunahan’ brings out the distinctive traits in us as heroes because we got ourselves vaccinated. We are all heroes. By getting vaccinated against Covid-19, we join the unified fight to defeat this pandemic, and at the same time we protect ourselves, our families, and the people around us,” Paulo said.

The military officer also urged those who remain unvaccinated to have themselves inoculated with the vaccines.

“Let us show our cooperation, discipline, and concern to others by getting vaccinated. Let us unite and help each other to defeat Covid-19,” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1161587