Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday upheld the legality of President Duterte’s statement compelling Filipinos to get their Covid-19 shots.
The justice chief, however, said a law may be required if sanctions or penalties would be imposed in the exercise of such “police power.”
“The President correctly invoked police power as basis to compel anti-Covid-19 vaccination for everyone except those who have valid reasons. The power rests upon the inherent right of the State and the people to self-protection,” Guevarra said.
“But this power, especially if accompanied by penalties or sanctions to enforce obedience or compliance, must be exercised through the legislature,” he said.
Without an enabling law, Guevarra explained that the government might only urge or persuade or try even to convince people to heed its call to get vaccinated.
Earlier, President Duterte warned he would use police powers to compel people to avail of the government’s anti-Covid-19 vaccination program.
Duterte noted that there were reports that some people are still hesitant to be vaccinated for a range of reasons.