Vaccine ban on makers of ‘sin’ products hit

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Saturday slammed a proposed directive from the Department of Health that would ban manufacturers of “sin” products from purchasing vaccines against COVID-19, saying this “absurd” proposal must have come from the same officials responsible for the government’s failed pandemic response.

Sotto expressed hope President Rodrigo Duterte would block this plan, as he warned that this could lead to the companies’ closure if many of their workers fall ill due to the coronavirus.

—Melvin Gascon