MANILA – People who refuse to be immunized with the Covid-19 vaccine could simply leave the country, said President Rodrigo Duterte late Monday night.
Duterte made this statement during a pre-recorded meeting with Cabinet members, expressing his “exasperation” with individuals who refused to be vaccinated.
“I’m just exasperated by Filipinos not heeding the government. E tutal dito wala tayong hangarin kundi kabutihan ng ating bayan (We don’t have any intention except what is best for our nation),” he said.
Duterte stated that getting vaccinated is the only way to combat the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Kung hindi kayo magpabakuna, umalis kayo sa Pilipinas (If you don’t want to get vaccinated, leave the Philippines). Go to India if you want, or somewhere to America. But for as long as you are here and you are a human being and can carry the virus, e magpabakuna ka (you should get vaccinated),” he added.
He also asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to determine and count residents who refused to be vaccinated.
“Kayong mga barangay captains, I’ll task the DILG to do that, to look for these persons. Kung hindi (If not), I will order their arrest sa totoo lang (to be honest),” he said.
Individuals who refused to be vaccinated, according to Duterte, were “potential carriers” of Covid-19 and endangered other people’s lives. He stated that they should be imprisoned as punishment for opposing the government.
“Because if you are a person na hindi ka (that is not) vaccinated, you are a potential carrier and to protect the people I have to sequester you in jail. Mamili kayo, magpabakuna kayo o ipakulong ko kayo sa selda (Choose, get vaccinated or get imprisoned)?” he added.
The government had conducted 8,222,759 doses of Covid-19 vaccination as of June 19. A total of 2,210,134 people have been fully vaccinated out of this number.
