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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pimentel: Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination is unconstitutional

Pimentel: Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination is unconstitutional

Published Jan 13, 2022 10:15 am

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination is unconstitutional, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Thursday, January 13 said.

Pimentel, a former Senate President and a bar topnotcher, issued the statement after he objected to a Department of Transportation (DOTr) ‘’no vaxx, no ride’’ policy.

The policy bans those not vaccinated against COVID-19 infection from using public transportation in Metro Manila.

Pimentel said government should not make life difficult to those not vaccinated, those who refused to be vaccinated for medical or religious reasons, or those who simply do not believe in vaccines.

He emphasized that vaccination is on an experimental use authorization (EUA) stage.

Thus, the ‘’unwilling’’ should not be forced to undergo vaccination, he said.

Pimentel pointed out that even those who had been vaccinated could still be infected and become a carrier.

He said there is still no law making vaccination mandatory and, if there is any, it is unconstitutional.

What the government is doing now is gradually making vaccination mandatory, he added.

Government should offer incentives to those unvaccinated instead of penalizing them, Pimentel said.

‘’Let us promote the ‘Vaccination of the Willing’,’’ he added.

Pimentel said government must ensure that there are enough vaccines for the ‘’willing’’ as there are now some 220 million doses of vaccines that have arrived in the country.

Opposition Senator Francis ‘’Kiko’’ N. Pangillinan weighed in on the vaccination issue by saying that ‘’there is freedom of choice.’’

‘’Huwag pwersahin o takutin o idaan sa palitan and unvaxxed (Don’t use force or threaten),’’ he said.

‘’Incentivize, hindi penalize ang dapat (Give incentives, don’t penalize),’’ he added.

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