By Jeffrey Damicog
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has formed a special team to handle Filipinos arriving from Hubei, China, Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Markk Perete said on Wednesday (Jan. 29).
Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Markk Perete (Photo courtesy of dumaguetecity.gov.ph / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Immigration procedures and formalities for repatriated overseas Filipinos from parts of China will be handled by a special team of immigration officers,” said Perete, who has supervision over the BI.
“The team has undergone briefings conducted by the BoQ (Bureau of Quarantine) and will be provided with the necessary protective gear,” he added.
The DOJ spokesman noted that Filipinos arriving from Hubei will be quarantined for 14 days, and stressed the importance of having a special team to handle them because Hubei’s capital is Wuhan City, where the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) strain is believed to have originated from.
“We need to check and verify the identity of every person who enters our gates,” Perete said. “Apart from updating travel records, immigration formalities are essential for our national security.”
The DOJ official also pointed out the possibility that individuals might take advantage of the situation. “We want to make sure that our security is not compromised by those who seek to gain entry into our territory by exploiting the current situation.”
The government said it is ready to dispatch flights to China as a number of Filipinos in Wuhan have expressed their desire to return home.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Markk Perete (Photo courtesy of dumaguetecity.gov.ph / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Immigration procedures and formalities for repatriated overseas Filipinos from parts of China will be handled by a special team of immigration officers,” said Perete, who has supervision over the BI.
“The team has undergone briefings conducted by the BoQ (Bureau of Quarantine) and will be provided with the necessary protective gear,” he added.
The DOJ spokesman noted that Filipinos arriving from Hubei will be quarantined for 14 days, and stressed the importance of having a special team to handle them because Hubei’s capital is Wuhan City, where the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) strain is believed to have originated from.
“We need to check and verify the identity of every person who enters our gates,” Perete said. “Apart from updating travel records, immigration formalities are essential for our national security.”
The DOJ official also pointed out the possibility that individuals might take advantage of the situation. “We want to make sure that our security is not compromised by those who seek to gain entry into our territory by exploiting the current situation.”
The government said it is ready to dispatch flights to China as a number of Filipinos in Wuhan have expressed their desire to return home.