Filipinos who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are "heroes" as far as President Duterte is concerned.
As for his unvaccinated compatriots, the outspoken Chief Executive gave a less savory description of them.
In his pre-recorded "Talk to the People" public briefing late Tuesday night, Nov. 9, Duterte trumpeted the government's upcoming three-day national vaccination drive scheduled to take place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.
This means that the vaccination drive will sandwich Bonifacio Day on Nov. 30--the day the country commemorates the birth anniversary of the great revolutionary Andres Bonifacio.
"With this, we want to convey the message that every Filipino who will get vaccinated... Lahat na pala, ang gustong sabihin dito sa gobyerno na ‘yung lahat nagpabakuna are heroes, lahat kayo hero (I mean everyone, what the government wants to say with this is, all those who have undergone vaccination are heroes, you're all heroes)," Duterte said.
"Iyong hindi nagpabakuna ‘yung mga pangit na p** --- p***** kayo. Huwag ninyo akong bigyan ng problema na ano (Those who haven't been vaccinated are the ugly ones, you . Don't you give me any problems)," he added, obviously in jest.
While he has made no secrets about his desire to inoculate as many Filipinos from COVID-19 as possible, Duterte has acknowledged that some people have deeply personal reasons as to why they avoid the jab.
But this hasn't stopped the President from trying to change the anti-vaxxers' minds whenever he holds his late night briefings.
"Sana naman ‘yung ayaw magpabakuna (Hopefully those who refuse to get vaccinated), well, you’d come to your senses," he said.
Also during the Tuesday briefing, Duterte reckoned that it was the right of companies to reject job applicants on the basis of them being unvaccinated from COVID-19.