Government need not restrict the mobility of unvaccinated Filipinos as long as they observe mandatory health and safety protocols outside their residence.
PROMDI Party presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao aired this view as he urged government to recall various orders restricting the movement of citizens amid the continued surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Pacquiao directed his appeal to the Department of interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police and the Department of Transportation.
The DILG and PNP, together with barangay officials in the country, have been ordered by President Duterte to arrest unvaccinated persons from going out of their homes without valid reasons.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año clarified that no arrest will be made.
On the other hand, the DOTr is carrying out a “no vaccine, no ride’ policy that will bar the unvaccinated from riding in any public transport.
Pacquiao said the unvaccinated Filipinos should not also be forced to get their vaccine jabs if this is against their free will. Instead, authorities should just persuade them by properly explaining the benefits of having anti-COVID vaccines.
“Huwag po natin silang ituring na parang mga kriminal. Huwag po natin silang putulan ng karapatan na makapagtrabaho o makapamili ng kanilang mga pangangailangan. (Let’s not treat them like criminals. Do not curtail their right to work or buy things they need),” Pacquiao said.
He stressed that getting the COVID-19 jab should remain a personal choice of an individual and that government should not impose restrictions against just to force its bid to have citizens vaccinated.