BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
More than 100 individuals, who are advocating against mandatory Covid-19 vaccination, joined a caravan around Bacolod City Saturday to bring awareness to the public of their rights under the law.
Lawyer William Mirano, who led the group, pointed out that they are not against the Covid-19 vaccine but are against its mandatory implementation. More than 80 vehicles joined the Bacolod-Negros freedom caravan Saturday which coincided with the commemoration of “freedom day” (or the EDSA Revolution). They come from all sectors of the community which include doctors, nurses, lawyers, employees even ordinary citizens.
“We want to make the people aware of their rights under the law. The law states that Covid-19 vaccination is not mandatory, so we honestly believe that the people should not be compelled to get vaccinated,” he said.
Mirano said they pity the children who are considered the hope of our future. If the experimental drug will have an adverse effect what will happen to them? He asked. Worse, the manufacturer of the drug has no liability.
“So, our stand is that the vaccination should be voluntary only. We respect the opinion of those who want to be vaccinated in the same manner we also want them to respect those who don’t want. And there should be no discrimination against those who are vaccinated and those who are not because all of us are Filipinos,” he said, adding that under the Constitution we are entitled to equal protection of the law.
Mirano said this is what they want to impress upon the people, that all of them have rights, whether or not they want to get vaccinated because they have the right over their bodies. The government should not play with people’s lives. If they want to conduct an experiment, they should do it on animals not on people especially on children.
He said he is not vaccinated because he has no plans to be injected with live or dead virus. There are those who have been vaccinated and boosted yet they have been infected with the virus. What guarantee will the vaccine provide? He asked.
People are taking risk and yet do not get any benefit. Manufacturers of the vaccine have admitted themselves that the drug has not been studied well since it’s called experimental drug, he said.
Nell Sumpreque, a registered nurse, said the Covid-19 vaccine has been observed to have deadly side effects like myocarditis or pericarditis, which is an inflammation in the heart muscles, and thrombolysis which creates blood clots, and many more.
Meanwhile, the protestors gathered at the Bacolod City Public Plaza after the caravan to hold a mass, and praise and worship activity while observing health protocols like social distancing and the wearing of face mask.*
