The rationale behind the appointment of ex-military men like Secretary Carlito Galvez as Chief Implementor of the national policy against Covid-19, and Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Secretary Eduardo Año as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the National Action Plan simply lies on their 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.

The strict implementation of home quarantine is a must, so is the maintenance of peace and order to make affective the fight against the coronavirus that has placed the nation on the precipice of destruction and death.

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. 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.

We are in state of war against an unseen enemy and we need men and women trained in the art of warfare.

With high and senior ex-military men at the helm of the implementing organisations, the officers as well as 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.

They will spare no one nor exempt anyone, whether in the private sector or in the government, in applying the law as well as the restrictions imposed by the Constitution in times of national emergency.

Salvador S. Panelo
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel & Presidential Spokesperson