PNP chief warns non-believers of COVID-19, anti-vaxxers

The chief of the Philippine National Police on Sunday "warned" individuals and groups who defied health protocols in protest of government guidelines against COVID-19.

Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, in a statement sent to reporters, said that "while the PNP respects the belief of some individuals and groups not to believe on COVID-19 and the vaccination," they should also "learn to respect the belief" held by many Filipinos, "including those who died and became infected and especially our healthcare workers who are on the frontline of this battle."

The Philippines has been under varying degrees of community quarantine since March 2020 and health authorities have been reporting more than 20,000 new cases a day.

"Holding protest actions to insist on what you believe in does not make it right. It is but plain and simple acts of defiance and irresponsibility because you are putting our personnel and other civilian population at risk of being infected," he added.

The PNP chief's warning is in stark contrast to the police's treatment of protesters and activists since the early days of the pandemic, when urban poor residents calling for food aid were arrested in Quezon City.

Strict implementation of pandemic protocols have been a huge part of the government's pandemic response and security officials have arrested people holding feeding programs and relief drives.

The PNP chief's statement comes after members of the group Gising Maharlika held a protest action at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila to oppose the vaccination program and pandemic response of the national government on Saturday afternoon.

"Lumabas na po tayo. Tama na 'tong lockdown, tama na (It's time to go out.

This lockdown is enough)," one protester is seen calling in videos shared by Gising Maharlika's Facebook page.

Photos also show members of the group not wearing face masks in what the PNP said was an "apparent bid to emphasize that they do not believe in the coronavirus." Posters at the event read: "I do not consent to tyranny."