MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ordered barangay chiefs to “restrain” people who are still unvaccinated against COVID-19 from going out of their houses as the country is seeing surges in new coronavirus cases.
In a taped public address, Duterte is directing barangay captains to identify unvaccinated people in their communities and restrain them from stepping out of their residences.
“I am now giving orders to the barangay captains to look for those persons who are not vaccinated and just would request them or order them to stay put and he goes out of the house or goes around the community, kung saan man magpunta, he can be restrained,” he said.
He reasoned that as President, he is responsible for the health of Filipinos, thus, he has come to the decision to restrain the movement of unvaccinated people.
“Hindi naman agad arestuhin. Pakiusap lang. Hindi ka nagpabakuna, then you put everyone in jeopardy,” he said.
(They will not be arrested immediately. Just ask them. You did not get vaccinated so you put everyone in jeopardy.)
Duterte added that barangay chiefs can mobilize civilians and deputize them in monitoring unvaccinated people.