President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday told Pubic Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta to leave kids out of her unwillingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
"For those who are against the vaccination of our children, including PAO chief Persida Acosta, kung ayaw mong magpabakuna, ikaw na lang," Duterte said in his taped "Talk to the People."
(For those who are against the vaccination of our children, including PAO chief Persida Acosta, if you don’t want to get vaccinated, that’s your choice.)
"'Wag mo na idamay ang mga bata," he added.
(Leave children out of it.)
According to Duterte, this was the suggestion from two Cabinet members, who were both not named by the president.
The president's remarks came after a petition was filed before the Quezon Regional Trial Court to halt the vaccination program for children aged five to 11 years old.
The petition was filed by parents of the children who will get vaccinated, and they were represented by PAO.
PAO chief Acosta also previously admitted in a television interview that she remains unvaccinated against COVID-19, adding that she is waiting for a protein-based vaccine.
