Republic of the Philippines

PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

Tanggapan ng Manananggol Pambayan
DOJ Agencies Building, NIA Road corner East Avenue, 1104 Quezon City
Telephone Nos. 929-90-10 / 929-94-36 ; Fax No. 927-68-10

January 24, 2022

Hon. Edwin L. Olivares

City Mayor, Parañaque City
Office of the Mayor, Parañaque City Hall
San Antonio Valley I, Parañaque City

Dear Hon. Olivares:

We write in connection with the request for legal assistance of Mr. Ivan
Nazarius V. Ison to our office regarding the refusal of the security
personnel/s of the Parañaque City Hall to allow him to enter and render
services as an employee of the Local Government of Parañaque City on
account that he could not present a COVID-19 vaccination card.

According to Mr. Ison, he is a Zoning Officer assigned at the Office of

the Building Official. During his childhood, he was diagnosed with a heart
disease. For which reason, he still has reservations in securing vaccination
against COVID-19 virus. Consequently, he has no COVID-19 vaccination card
which is being required of him to present before he can enter the City Hall.

In his behalf, we would like to request that he be allowed to enter the

Parañaque City Hall in order for him to be able to render the services required
of him as Zoning Officer II. Refusal to do so is equivalent to the curtailment of
his rights to employment as well just and humane conditions of work as he is
neither given the alternative option of rendering work-from-home services;
rather, he is being required to utilize his leave of absences until such time he
obtains COVID-19 vaccination. At present, there is no law that requires any
person to be vaccinated against COVID-19 virus. Hence, the choice to be
vaccinated is left to one’s sole discretion, taking primordial consideration his
or her health and other medical conditions.

We also wish to emphasize that pursuant to Paragraph 2, Section 12 of

Republic Act No. 11525, otherwise known as “COVID-19 Vaccination
Program Act of 2021”,
“x x x
x x x Provided, further, That the vaccine cards shall not be
considered as an additional mandatory requirement for
educational, employment and other similar government
transaction purposes.” (emphasis supplied)
 We are hoping for your kind consideration and cooperation on
the matter.

Very truly yours,

ANA LISA M. SORIANO

Deputy Chief Public Attorney for Luzon

REVELYN V. RAMOS-DACPANO
Public Attorney V, RPA-PAO NCR and
concurrent Head Executive Assistant

INDIRA DIOSA GACES DIAZ

Public Attorney III

/idgd CO:ESS:2022:JAN:278