PAO chief appeals to LGUs: Don’t discriminate the unvaccinated

MANILA, Philippines — Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acosta on Saturday appealed to local government units (LGU) to not discriminate those who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19.

In making this call, Acosta stressed that there is still no law that requires mandatory vaccination.

“Sana po naman, pag-isipan po ng local government units. Huwag po nating idiscriminate ang unvaccinated. Please lang,” she said in a video message uploaded on her Facebook page.

(I hope local government units will think about this. Let us not discriminate against the unvaccinated. Please.)

“Ako po si PAO Chief Persida Rueda Acosta, nakikiusap, huwag po nating i-disciminate ang unvaccinated. Wala pa pong mandate ang mandatory vaccination, wala pong batas,” Acosta added.

(I am PAO Chief Persida Rueda Acosta, appealing to you. Please don’t discriminate against the unvaccinated. There is no law for mandatory vaccination.)

Acosta said the unvaccinated’s rights will be violated if they will be discriminated against just to force them to get the COVID-19 jab.

“Huwag po natin silang i-deprive ng trabaho nila, parang awa niyo na, sapagkat makakagawa po kayo ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao kapag ang unvaccinated ay ididiscriminate niyo para lamang mapuwersa silang magpabakuna,” she said.

(Let us not deprive them of their jobs, please. You will be violating their human rights if you discriminate them just to force them to get vaccinated.)

“Choice po ‘yan. Ang katawang ito po ay bigay ng Diyos. Ang makakapagdesisyon po talaga solamente ay ang taong may ari ng katawan.”

(Vaccination is a choice. This body was given by God. The only one who can decide for the body is the one who owns it.)

“Parang awa niyo na po. Mga barangay, huwag po tayo basta basta gumawa ng marahas laban sa mga kababayan natin. Bigyan po natin sila ng karapatan na ingatan din ang kanilang sariling katawan. Maging patas po tayo,” the PAO chief went on.

(Barangay officials, please. Don’t make rash actions against our countrymen. Let us let them exercise their right to take care of their own body. Let us be fair.)

Acosta’s appeal comes after President Rodrigo Duterte last week ordered barangay chiefs to “restrain” people who are still unvaccinated against COVID-19 from going out of their houses.

Following Duterte’s order, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has ordered barangays to identify and submit a list of their residents who are still not vaccinated.

Meanwhile in Metro Manila, the Department of Transportation has issued a “no vaccination, no ride” policy for all modes of public transportation.

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