Palace insists no politics behind Taiwan's inclusion in travel ban

Feb 13, 2020 00:00 AM

By Argyll Geducos

Malacañang said the government's decision to include Taiwan in its travel ban to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was not politically motivated and was only implemented to secure the health and safety of Filipinos in the Philippines.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the Philippines to correct its "unilateral decision" to include their country in the travel ban because of the "One China Policy."

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo (OPS / MANILA BULLETIN)

In a radio interview Thursday, Panelo denied that the Philippines’ move was politically motivated.

"Hindi totoo iyon dahil hindi naman tayo gumagalaw nang ganoon, palaging health issue tayo (That's not true because we've never acted based on just politics. We've always put health as the primary consideration)," he told Super Radyo DZBB.

"Sinasabi niya, 'Bigyan ninyo ako ng panahon to ponder over it kung ili-lift natin.' Pero sa ngayon, iyong kalusugan ng mga kababayan natin ang nasa isip niya (He asked for time to ponder on it if we should lift the ban . But for now, the health of our countrymen is his priority)," he added.

International news agency CNA reported that Taiwan could retaliate with seven or eight countermeasures, such as ending the visa-waiver program for Filipino tourists or cutting down on the number of Philippine migrant workers.

In his radio interview, Panelo said it was only normal for a country to react to any order against them.

"Natural lang iyon. Bawat bansa, kapag mayroong ginawang isang bagay ang isang bansa na hindi ka sang-ayon, gumagawa ka rin ng countermeasure mo. Natural lang iyon (It's only natural for a country to implement countermeasures if it disagrees with another country's order about them)," he said.

"We understand where it’s coming from. But the primary consideration of the President is the safety of our countrymen – the foremost."

The Philippines implemented an entry ban against visitors coming from China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau on Feb. 2 amid the COVID-19 scare. On Feb. 10, the Philippines expanded the travel ban to cover Taiwan.

Simply health concerns

In his Thursday press briefing, Panelo said the decision to include Taiwan in the travel ban was not because of the One China Policy.

"I asked the President last night. Ang sagot nya (He said): 'Nothing to do with it (One China Policy). It's the safety.' Very emphatic siya kagabi, eh (He was very emphatic)," he said.

'It transcends orders,' sabi nya (he said), 'Kung pinag-uusapan ang kalusugan ng mga kababayan natin (If we're talking about the health of our people),'" he added.

More to come?

Panelo said visitors from other countries with confirmed COVID-19 cases may be included in the travel ban after Taiwan questioned the Philippines's order when Singapore had more cases of the disease in their country.

"Baka darating tayo doon. Darating siguro tayo doon sa travel ban na yun (Maybe we'll get there. Maybe we'll get to that travel ban)," he said.

"Lahat 'yan pinag-aaralan. Basta ang palaging sinasabi nya (Everything is being studied. The President always says), 'My primary concern is the safety, walang iba (nothing else),'" he added

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Taipei has 18 confirmed COVID-19 caes as of February 12 while Singapore has 47 cases.