Duterte’s threat to have vaccine refusers jailed just a ‘strong reminder’ — PNP

LENI-ISKO ‘TEAM-UP’ Tricycle and pedicab drivers, as well as delivery riders, turn up at a COVID-19 vaccination site opened at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City on Tuesday, an initiative of Vice President Leni Robredo in partnership with Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines —  The threat of President Rodrigo Duterte to have those who will refuse vaccination against COVID-19 arrested was merely a “strong reminder” due to the threat of the coronavirus’ Delta variant the Philippine National Police said Wednesday.

“Ito naman pong sinabi ng ating Pangulo ay pagdidiin lamang ng kahalagahan ng pagpapabakuna ngayong pandemya. Lalo na po ngayon na may naitalang mga kaso ng COVID-19 Delta variant sa bansa kaya’t mas kailangan po talaga ng bawat Pilipino ng proteksyon laban dito. We really need to attain herd immunity,” PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.

(What our President said is just to emphasize the importance of vaccination in this pandemic. Especially now that there are recorded cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the country, so every Filipino really needs more protection against it. We really need to attain herd immunity.)

Duterte made the threat in his Monday briefing where he warned that “hard-headed” Filipinos who will refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 may be arrested, also ordering barangay officials to list their names, and joking that they should be injected with ivermectin.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, however, earlier said there is no law that forces anyone to get vaccinated.

Malacañang, for its part, said law or an ordinance is needed before any arrest is made with regard to those who refused to get vaccinated.

Convincing Filipinos to get vaccinated

Meanwhile, Eleazar said the PNP will coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) on how to effectively convince more Filipinos to avail of the government’s free vaccination amid the continuous threat of COVID-19 particularly after confirmation that the more transmissible Delta variant is already in the country.

Eleazar said he wants to replicate the success of the information drive initiated in the police organization where videos and fact sheets from the DOH were instrumental in convincing more policemen to be vaccinated.

From only 51 percent during the first survey conducted in February this year, the number of PNP personnel who expressed intention to be vaccinated is now at 93 percent, according to Eleazar.

“Kaisa po ang PNP sa paghikayat sa taumbayan na magpabakuna para sa COVID-19. Sa ngayon ay ito lamang po ang tiyak na paraan para maprotektahan natin ang ating mga sarili at ang mga mahal natin sa buhay laban sa nakamamatay na sakit na ito,” Eleazar said.

(The PNP is united in encouraging the people to get vaccinated for COVID-19. For now, this is the only sure way for us to protect ourselves and our loved ones against this deadly disease.)

As of June 22, Eleazar said more than 25,000 police personnel have already been vaccinated.

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