Filipinos in nCoV-hit areas in China are safer if they stay there – Sotto
by Vanne Elaine TerrazolaSenate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday raised his concern over the government’s plan to repatriate Filipinos from China amid the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
(PRIB Photo by Henz Austria/11 November 2019)
In a tweet, the Senate leader expressed belief that it would be safer for overseas Filipino workers and Filipino migrants to stay in China, saying they might be discriminated against when they are sent home to the Philippines.
“Repatriate Pinoys from Wuhan? Isn’t it safer to stay put, stay safe in their homes there instead of being discriminated here?” Sotto said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that it will start repatriating Filipinos in China next week subject to China’s immigration and quarantine procedures. Filipinos from Wuhan City, the epicenter of the 2019-nCoV, and the rest of Hubei province will reportedly be prioritized in the repatriation.
Officials earlier said that at least 50 Filipinos, mostly from Wuhan, have expressed their desire to be repatriated.
Upon arrival in the Philippines, the repatriates would be required to undergo 14 days of mandatory quarantine in accordance with the guidelines of the Department of Health.
Sotto, in a text message to Manila Bulletin, maintained that his remarks were only his opinion and “It’s up to people if they can answer my question.”
He said he “absolutely” supports the imposition of the temporary travel ban on travellers coming from Hubei province and other areas in China with confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV.
But he said the travel ban should cover all nationalities, not only Chinese, who came from the said areas.
Should the situation worsen, he appealed for a ban covering all those coming from countries affected by the virus.
“But then, we should leave the decision and assessment to our Health officials. They are in a better position to assess matters rather than us armchair critics,” he told reporters in a separate message.
Read more: PH set to repatriate Filipinos from Wuhan, Hubei next week – DFA