President Duterte on Monday called out Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta on her stand against the government's COVID-19 vaccination program for children.
"For those who are against the vaccination of our children, including PAO Chief Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, kung ayaw mong magpabakuna, ikaw na lang. Huwag mo nang idamay ang mga bata (If you don't want to get vaccinated, go ahead. But leave the children out of it)," Duterte said in his Talk To The People briefing aired Monday night, Feb. 7.
Duterte said the suggestion to call out Acosta came from members of his Cabinet.
Acosta, who has refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 due to her age and health considerations, is representing through PAO two parents who filed a petition to stop the government's inoculation drive for minors.
While the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 recognized the petitioners' right to file a case, they emphasized that the vaccination rollout will continue.
The Philippines began the pilot rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged five to 11 in Metro Manila on Monday. This will later be expanded nationwide as the government aims to inoculate some 15 million children in the said age group.
Meanwhile, Duterte urged parents to have their children vaccinated against the deadly virus.
"These are the Filipinos of tomorrow. It’s very important that you bring your children to vaccination sites and have them vaccinated... It’s needed for they constitute the next generation of Filipinos," the President said.
"Kung mahal mo ang bayan mo, mahal mo ‘yung anak mo, pagsabayan mo ‘yung dalawang rason na ‘yan, have them vaccinated (If you love your country, you love your children, have them vaccinated)," he concluded.