Philippine military bracing for chaos as flu cases keep climbing

www.chinaview.cn 2009-06-15 16:06:25

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MANILA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine military is bracing for a possible chaos in case an A/H1N1 flu pandemic is declared in the country, a spokesman said on Monday. "In case this pandemic would evolve or erupt into a widespread chaos, our troops are ready to assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) in maintaining peace and order in the country," said Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, public affairs office chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Brawner said the preparation is among the measures that had been laid out by the military leadership in response to A/H1N1 virus that is infecting more and more Filipinos. On Monday, Philippine health authorities reported 46 more confirmed cases, bring the total to 193. The newly-confirmed cases involved 27 females and 19 males with an age range of nine to 47 years old. All of the new cases are Filipinos. Health officials said that 71 patients have fully recovered since May 1 and the other cases are also mild in nature. They appeal the public not to panic for the virus. The military spokesman said they are making preparations just for a possibility. "That is a possibility -- the eruption of chaos or violence," Brawner said when asked if the military is expecting violence in case of a widespread pandemic. "In such a case, the lead agency would be the Philippine National Police but of course, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) will always be there to support the PNP in maintaining peace and order." "Anything can happen when you declare a widespread pandemic," said Brawner. "So one possibility would be that there would be widespread chaos and this has been the experience of some countries," he added.