President Duterte berated Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acosta over the inoculation of the government’s COVID-19 program to vaccinate children aged 5 to 11 years old.

According to Duterte, he urged Acosta to not include the children and it was her choice to not get vaccinated because of health issues. 

“For those who are against the vaccination of our children, including PAO chief Persida Acosta, kung ayaw mong magpabakuna, ikaw na lang. ‘Wag mo na idamay ang mga bata”. Duterte emphasized in his talk to the people. 

In addition, Duterte encouraged the parents to bring their children to the vaccination sites and get them vaccinated. 

“‘Yung mga bata ngayon dapat mabakunahan talaga. It is very important that you bring your children to vaccination sites and have them vaccinated.” Duterte said. 

Meanwhile, the petition was filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to stop the vaccination for children. According to Acosta, the parents wanted to stop the inoculation to protect them from “undue experimentation”. 

The petitioners, Dominic Almelor and Girlie Samonte, said that the purpose of filing the case was not to demerit and impugn the administration’s effort against COVID-19, but to guide them in saving the lives of every Filipino child. 

Despite the filing of the case, the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 maintained their stand to continue the vaccination over children aged 5 to 11 years old. 

The rollout of the government’s vaccination program for children will start on February 14.