Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday, Jan. 13, warned those individuals participating in rallies against vaccination in the city that they will face the full force of the law.
On Tuesday, Jan. 11, Domagoso said criminal charges have been filed against four persons who participated in a "No to Vaccination" rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.
"Basta kami uunawain ko kayo, hahabaan ko ang kamay ko, hahabaan namin ang pag-unawa, pero darating at darating sa punto ng buhay mamimili tayo sa itim at puti because we are always certain about our laws. Huwag kayo susubok sa Maynila, o kita mo sumubok kahapon ano ang napala? (I will try my best to understand you, I will extend my hand, we will extend the understanding, but it will still come to a point that we we will have to choose between black and white because we are always certain about our laws. Don't even try it in Manila.. Did you see those who tried yesterday, what did they get?)," he said.
Domagoso said those who were arrested are currently detained at the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters.
"Basta andun lahat sa MPD, pwede nyo na bisitahin. Di ko na sila iniintindi basta tayo focus tayo sa bakunahan. Rally ka, goyo ka. Police matter 'yan eh. Basta importante sinusunod nila ang tagubilin natin. Walang mangugulo sa Maynila (They are all in the MPD, you can visit them. I don't care about them anymore as long as we focus on vaccination. You hold an illegal rally, you get arrested. That's a police matter. What's important is that they follow our instruction. No one should cause trouble in Manila)," said.
He reiterated that those who will violate the laws in the city will immediately be punished.
Domagoso has been consistently reminding those who are still unvaccinated to get jabbed to protect themselves from the virus.
"Pero kung kinakailangan proteksyunan natin ang higit na nakararami sa ating kababayan na nagdesisyon, nagmalasakit sa sarili, at tumugon sa pamahalaan, at nakiisa sa pamayanan na nagpabakuna (When it comes to protecting the vast majority of our countrymen who decided, took care of themselves, and responded to the government, and joined the community that got vaccinated), then I think its high-time to police those who are unvaccinated, to regulate their movement, to protect others. This is about protection of your family, of your neighbors, of our community, of our city and our country),” he warned.
The city of Manila has recorded a total of 3,112, 568 COVID-19 vaccines doses administered as of Wednesday, Jan. 12.