Local government units (LGUs) should not discriminate against persons who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta said.
Acosta’s appeal was aired after several local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) passed ordinances that restrict the movement of unvaccinated persons except for the procurement of essential goods or services.
Also, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has banned unvaccinated persons from taking public transportation in the NCR.
NCR and many other places in the entire country have been placed under a more restrictive COVID-19 Alert Level 3 until Jan. 31.
In her social media message, Acosta said: “Ako po si PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta nakiki-usap huwag po natin i-discriminate ang unvaccinated (I, PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, appeal to LGUs not to discriminate against unvaccinated persons).”
Acosta also appealed to barangay officials to refrain from making “violent actions” against unvaccinated persons.
“Mga barangay huwag po tayo gumawa ng basta-bastang marahas laban sa mga kababayan natin (Barangay officials should not take violent actions against our countrymen),” she stressed.
“Bigyan po natin sila ng karapatan na ingatan din ang kanilang sariling katawan (Give them their right to protect themselves),” she added.
Acosta said that no law has been passed on the mandatory vaccination of all citizens.
“Makakagawa kayo ng paglabag sa karapatang pangtao kapag ang unvaccinated ay ide-discriminate ninyo para lang mapwersa sila magpabakuna (human rights will be violated if you discriminate against unvaccinated persons just to force them to get vaccinated),” she pointed out.