PROMDI presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday appealed to the government units not to curtail the mobility of unvaccinated Filipinos, so long as they observe the mandatory health and safety protocols against COVID-19.
In calling out the Department of Interior on Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Transportation (DoTr), and all local government units, Pacquiao said unvaccinated Filipinos should not also be forced to get their vaccine jabs.
He said authorities should just persuade them by properly explaining the benefits of having anti-COVID vaccines.
Pacquiao’s statement came after the DoTr issued a travel ban on all unvaccinated Filipinos.
Earlier, President Duterte also issued an order for barangay officials to stop unvaccinated residents from going out of their homes.
Pacquiao said having a vaccine should continue to be a personal choice, and the government should not impose restrictions against those who believe that this is contrary to their personal and religious beliefs.
Unless there is a law that mandates people to be vaccinated, those who chose not to be inoculated must be left alone, the champion boxer added. Macon Ramos-Araneta
