President Rodrigo Duterte said there should be a law that would punish unvaccinated individuals who continue to roam around despite the cases of a much “scary” Delta variant of coronavirus disease.

While there is no law yet on that, Duterte asked the barangay captains to ensure that their constituents who are not yet inoculated against COVID-19 would not go out and should they roam around, the police must escort them back to their homes.

“We have to come up with a law punishing a guy who has been going around without vaccination,” he said in his pre-recorded “Talk to the People” aired past midnight of Thursday, noting that the uninoculated individuals could be a risk to those who have been vaccinated already.

“The barangay captains should not allow to go out those who refuse to be vaccinated. We’re defenseless. Do I still need to wait for a law if many have already died? There’s no law, but the law of necessity is there,” he said.

Duterte said he is ready to face the consequences of his order.

“I assume full responsibility for that,” he said.

Duterte said the vaccines supposedly intended for members of the priority groups but who refused to be inoculated should be given to people who want to get the jabs even if they do not belong to the priority groups.

“We can have heightened restrictions. I do not have qualms to people going out if vaccinated. What’s the purpose of the vaccines if you cannot go out? Those who are not vaccinated, step aside,” he said. Celerina Monte/DMS