President Duterte is firm in his stand that Filipinos working or living abroad would not be barred from entering the Philippines even if they will be coming from countries with confirmed cases of the new COVID-19 variant, Malacañang said.
(CELI/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement as the government extended and expanded the existing travel ban to 34 countries with confirmed cases of new COVID-19 strains until the end of the month.
In his press briefing on Thursday, Roque said President Duterte's decision to allow Filipinos from abroad to enter the Philippines is based on their right to travel.
"Nanindigan na po ang Presidente: Walang Pilipino na pupuwedeng mapigilang umuwi (We won't stop any Filipino from coming home)," he said.
"That is the right to travel, recognized already in jurisprudence laid down by the Philippines Supreme Court. Karapatang pantao po iyan ng lahat ng Pilipino (That is the right of every Filipino)," he added.
Roque, however, assured the public that the government will make sure that the rest of the population will be protected from the more contagious COVID-19 virus strains.
"Gagawa tayo ng hakbang para maprotektahan naman ang ating populasyon laban dito sa bagong strain kasama na po diyan iyong absolute 14-day quarantine (We will implement measures to protect the rest of the population against this new strain and this includes the absolute 14-day quarantine)," he said.
The United Kingdom variant of COVID-19, which is believed to be more contagious, was first detected in a Filipino that arrived in the country last week after traveling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The government has included UAE and Hungary to the list of countries included in the travel ban on Friday, bringing the latest count to 34 countries.
Filipinos will still be allowed to enter the country despite the travel ban but they will be required to undergo an absolute facility-based quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival, and even if their RT-PCR test yielded a negative result.
Meanwhile, unaccompanied Filipino minors from overseas will not be allowed by airlines to board any flights going to the Philippines.