PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s disclosure that “almost all” soldiers have been injected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine has placed military and Health officials in trouble. They’re now trying to mitigate the situation by coming up with alibis and excuses to make it appear that it was all right.

“Halos lahat ng sundalo natusukan na (Almost all soldiers have been injected). I have to be frank, and I have to tell the truth. I will not foist a lie,” Duterte said during a December 26 televised meeting on Covid-19 with key Cabinet officials and experts on emerging infectious diseases.