Drilon: Unvaccinated PAO chief Acosta should be barred from reporting to work

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Wednesday called on Malacañang and the Department of Justice to bar Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta from reporting to work due to her “continued refusal” to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

In a statement, Drilon said Acosta’s refusal to get the vaccine undermines the government’s inoculation drive.

“Acosta is putting the life, health and safety of her co-workers in danger and that should be dealt with accordingly and decisively,” Drilon said.

He also warned the government of being accused of a double standard should it allow Acosta to report to work while they are restricting the mobility of ordinary Filipinos who remain unvaccinated.

“If the government is serious about its ‘no vax, stay at home; no vax, no ride policy,’ it should apply it to all. Otherwise, it will not work,” Drilon said.

“The government should take the same hardline stance against their own officials. Set an example with Acosta,” he emphasized, adding that this would be consistent with President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks that it would be for the “common good.”

Drilon also explained that the government may impose restrictions on unvaccinated individuals to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 as it is well within the power of the state.

“It is a valid and reasonable exercise of police power to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the people. The general welfare clause also provides sufficient authority to the State to implement measures for the ‘maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the general welfare,’” Drilon said.

“The State may also interfere with personal liberty to promote the general welfare as long as the interference is reasonable and not arbitrary,” he added.

The lawmaker cited two US Supreme Court jurisprudence which upheld the exercise of police power of the state in promoting the public health and safety.

He further noted that he shares the similar stance with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

He then urged the PAO chief to “obey” government regulations restricting the movement of unvaccinated individuals in the interest of public safety.

Drilon said it would be “unacceptable” that the government is persuading people to get their COVID-19 shots yet Acosta remains unvaccinated.

"Hindi ba sampal iyon sa gobyerno (isn’t that a slap on the government’s face)? I hope it is not deliberate but Acosta’s recent statements can fuel the vaccine hesitancy that we are still trying to address,” he said.

While he noted the improvements in the vaccine acceptance in the country, Drilon said the number of Filipinos unwilling to get vaccinated is still a cause of concern.

“One of them, unfortunately, is a member of the administration. Acosta can make a good case study for the government. If you can convince Acosta to get vaccinated, then the government has a better chance of persuading every Juan dela Cruz to get vaccinated,” Drilon said.

“But until she gets vaccinated, she should be barred from reporting to work,” he said.

Reacting to Drilon’s statement, Guevarra said Malacañang should be the one to decide on the matter.

“The PAO chief is not under the control of the DOJ. Let’s leave it to Malacañang,” he said.

Drilon apparently issued the statement after Acosta, in a television interview Wednesday morning, admitted that she is not vaccinated yet against COVID-19.

Acosta said that she is awaiting the release of a "protein-based" vaccine.

This was her physician's recommendation as she mentioned that she has hypertension and serious allergic reactions.

“Hindi ako basta puwedeng gumamit ng bagong gamot na hindi aakma sa aking cellular system,” she said.

(I am not allowed to get new medicines that are not compatible with my cellular system.)

“Kumpleto po ako ng bakuna pati yung sa cervical cancer…’yung bunso ko na lang ang hindi nabakunahan at ako kasi hinihintay naming dalawa yung protein-based [na vaccine] na parating,” Acosta added.

(My vaccines are complete, even the one for cervical cancer. My youngest child and I are the only ones who are not vaccinated in my family because we are waiting for the protein-based vaccine.)

GMA News Online has sought Acosta’s comment on Drilon’s statement but she has yet to respond as of posting time.

In a recent interview, Acosta said the recent policy requiring commuters to present their vaccination cards before boarding public vehicles is unconstitutional and discriminatory.

She cited Republic Act 11525 which states that vaccine cards “shall not be considered an additional mandatory requirement for educational, employment, and other similar government transaction purposes.”

Under the new policy, only fully vaccinated individuals in Metro Manila may board public utility vehicles while the region is under Alert Level 3 or higher.

This is consistent with Duterte’s order to restrain unvaccinated individuals from going out of their residences. —KG/VBL, GMA News