President Duterte said that many Muslims in the country, particularly in Mindanao are resisting getting vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19) possibly either because of their religion or culture.
Duterte made the statement after sharing a report of Muslim passengers at the North Harbor crying after they were not allowed to board a ship supposedly because they were not vaccinated.
In his pre-recorded public address late Monday, January 24, the President said these were the people who cannot be forced to take the vaccine.
"They were not allowed to board the ship kasi walang mga bakuna. Mga hindi mo mapipilit. I think the Muslim community, dito sa Pilipinas (because they were not vaccinated. You cannot force them. I think the Muslim community in the Philippines)," he said.
"Mukhang ang karamihan (It seems many of them) is of the belief that it is not allowed by their-- I don't know-- religion. I might be mistaken. It could be that or something else sa culture nila (in their culture)," he added.
According to the President, this is especially true among Muslims in Mindanao.
"But in Mindanao, the Muslim community resisting the bakuna (vaccine)," he said.
"Mindanao ayaw talaga. Marami doon ano (Many from Mindanao really do not want it. A lot of them), simply they do not want it, period," he added.
Metro Manila is currently implementing a No Vax, No Ride policy in public transportation after a surge of COVID-19 cases possibly fueled by the Omicron variant.
As of January 23, a total of 57,268,257 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.