Open letter to senators

We, the Alliance of Dabawenyos for Freedom and Informed Choice, respectfully submit to you the first set of signatures in support of the online petition to quash mandatory vaccinations as consolidated by Senate Bill 2422 known as “An Act Creating A Vaccine and Health Passport Program, Amending For This Purpose RA 11525...,” House Bill 10249 known as “An Act Providing For Mandatory Coronavirus 2019 (COVID 19) Vaccine For All Filipino Citizens Eligible To Receive The Vaccine…” and other bills and resolutions mandating COVID vaccinations and vaccination passports for every Filipino, especially the children.

As of this writing, the campaign has gathered more than 11,000 signatures from all over the country in a span of 14 days. The online petition already has more than 60,000 views and 8,000 shares. It is gaining momentum!  

As we persevere in educating the broader populace on the issue, more and more people are beginning to understand that resisting mandatory COVID vaccinations is resisting militaristic maneuvering to divide the people (vaccinated and unvaccinated) on health and human rights. It is resisting the moves to advance unbridled political control by exploiting the people’s vulnerability in the face of the health crisis. 

We are expecting more people to clamor for a more holistic, scientific and sound government approach in dealing with COVID-19. In the next few days, while the online petition is on-going, we will collect as many hard copies of the petition with signatures nationwide to be sent to the Philippine Congress.      

By seeking to enjoin the majority of the Filipino people to stand for human rights, the campaign is becoming the reverberating voice of not only Dabawenyos, but all freedom-loving – vaccinated and unvaccinated – Filipinos who are making a firm stand against unethical, discriminatory, unlawful and anti-poor COVID vaccination mandates and programs. Both Senate Bill 2422 and House Bill 10249, among other bills on mandatory COVID vaccination and vaccination passports pending in Congress, neither speak well of a lawmaker’s wisdom and scientific understanding of the nature of COVID, nor his/her preference for human rights and freedom. These bills betray his/her compromised ideals that undermine the very essence of a healthy life for the citizens and the nation.  

We demand that you take the higher ground for our nation’s future and health by upholding the citizens’ right to life and the right to be free in making informed choices. Let us not allow COVID to disintegrate the fabric of the country’s social health by curtailing freedom and suppressing the rights of people. Above all, we believe that we cannot irresponsibly tinker with our children’s future by imposing such unhealthy, unethical and unconstitutional mandates. 

We strongly urge you, our dear Senators, to uphold RA 11525, and vote against Senate Bill 2422 and House Bill 10249, and other bills seeking to mandate COVID vaccinations and vaccination passports on our people, especially our children.  – Alcherie Patino, spokesperson, Alliance of Dabawenyos for Freedom and Informed Choice [email protected]