Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the chief executive’s directive is in compliance with the conditions set by the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility, which donated over 193,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.

There is no need to convene the National Security Council, Malacañang said Thursday as it dismissed calls on the government to come up with a "clear and united" stand on the West Philippine Sea. 

Health authorities on Thursday recorded 6,100 additional COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload 1,165,155.

Some 17 more colleges and universities have been tapped as COVID-19 vaccination sites to bring the total to 34, more than two months into the country's inoculation efforts.

"I will only believe that their intention is to help when they hold officers involved in profiling and harassment accountable," he said partially in Filipino. "They can't fix this with apologies. Hold them accountable."

Under IATF rules, government offices are directed to maintain a workforce of up to 50% of their operational capacity.

The Department of Health stressed that “the best vaccine is the one that is available now, regardless of the brand.”

Peace consultant and anti-terrorism law petitioner Rey Casambre has brought to the Supreme Court’s attention his recent designation as a “terrorist” despite being in detention since December 2018.

“The person will be informed of the brand in the vaccination center and he will have to give his informed consent but if he refuses, he will have to go back to the back of the line,” he said.

The Philippines is pausing the deployment of workers to Israel amid its conflict with Palestinian militants.