PNP warns COVID-19 anti-vaxxers vs. staging mass protest

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday discouraged a group of "anti-vaxxers," people who are against vaccination, from holding a mass protest amid the threat of the COVID-19.

In a statement, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said some netizens reported about a social media mobilization of anti-vaxxers planning to conduct a rally against the government's vaccination program.

“While we respect the right of the people to freedom of expression and even the decision of some people to refuse vaccination, encouraging our kababayan to do something that would compromise public health is a different matter,” he said.

With the incoming implementation of stricter measures in Metro Manila on August 6, Eleazar said they will check if the activity will violate health protocols.

The National Capital Region is placed under enhanced community quarantine from August 6 to 20 in light of the rising number of COVID-19 infections.

Eleazar warned that the protest action will endanger public health amid the threat of the more transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus.

The PNP chief encouraged the supposed protesters to cancel the rally.

“Your right to hold protest actions ends when the right of the most number of our kababayan to be safe from COVID-19 starts,” he added. -MDM, GMA News