President Duterte said he will be happy to answer complaints that would be filed against him for ordering village officials in the country to restrict the movement of unvaccinated people amid the surging cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a pre-recorded public address aired on late Thursday, Jan. 6, Duterte reaffirmed his decision to restrict the movement of unvaccinated individuals.
"That is my position," the President said. "Well if they can file cases, I'll be happy to answer."
"Sabi ko nga meron naman akong kaso sa ICC (International Criminal Court), 'di ipatong n'yo na para isang sagutan na lang pagdating ng panahon (As I said, I already have a case in the ICC, might as well pile it up with it so I would answer to it all at once in the future)," he added.
The ICC has authorized an investigation into the Duterte administration's drug war but it was later deferred. Duterte has been constantly making public pronouncements that he will not agree to be judged by the international body.
Duterte also justified his decision to restrict the mobility of unvaccinated individuals by saying that it is his responsibility to come up with such policy for the safety and well-being of every Filipino.
"So in the absence of the law, the President is called upon to act and because it is a national emergency, it is my position that we can restrain and I have ordered the barangay captains," he said, stressing that "under the law, the barangay captain can enforce all the laws of the land within his community."
Duterte also told the village chiefs to arrest the unvaccinated individual if he/she refuses to stay at home. The President also allowed them to mobilize civilians to assist in enforcing the policy.
READ MORE: Duterte orders barangay chiefs to restrict movement of unvaxxed Pinoys