By Genalyn Kabiling The Philippine government is prepared to bring home Filipinos if the global outbreak of the new coronavirus worsens, President Duterte announced Monday night. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/ MANILA BULLETIN) The President assured the nation that the government has enough funds and resources to handle public health emergencies and protect Filipinos, such as deploying aircraft and ships to fetch those abroad if a pandemic erupts. "Kung nagkakamatayan na talaga, at ang mga Pilipino doon pinagtutulak na (If there will be many deaths and Filipinos are being pushed away) whether you like it or not, I will bring them home. I will bring them home because they have no other country to seek shelter. It’s their country. Saan pa pala sila tatakbo? (Where will they run to?)" he said at an assembly of local government officials in Pasay City. "Kung ang Pilipino doon pinapaalis, eh pupunta tayo (If Filipinos are told to leave, we will fetch them) and we will marshal all available carriers there by ship or by air," he said. Duterte said the government would take health precautions in the repatriation of Filipinos to ensure the virus would not spread in the country. He said Filipinos who will be repatriated must follow these health protocols, including quarantine, to avoid any "trouble." "When it comes to a pandemic level, then there is no way that we can shrink away from the trouble of bringing them home. We have to bring them home. Ang ano lang is sabi ko (I said), impose the rules and tell them to strictly follow it," he said. He said the aircraft carrying repatriated Filipinos must be disinfected while medical personnel must be wearing full personal protective equipment. "There will always be precautions. And caveat diyan is do not break the rules. Kaya pagka ganun (When that happens), you break the rules, you forgo of some of the protocols, eh ayaw ninyong makinig doon kaya mas mabuti ‘yung inyo (you don't want to listen) - that is when trouble starts," he said. To date, the Philippines has confirmed three cases of coronavirus, including the death of one patient. More than 200 patients are under observation for suspected respiratory illness. At least 30 Filipinos have been brought home last Sunday from Wuhan, China the epicenter of the new coronavirus. They have shown no symptom of the virus but remained in quarantine at a facility in Tarlac for 14 days. Gov’t has enough funds, competent personnel Apart from the adequate funds, Duterte said the government has competent health personnel as well as local government units that can help address the threat posted by coronavirus. He noted that barangay health workers are considered the “frontliners” ensuring the safety and protection of Filipinos. "We have the money. We can defeat the virus," he said. At the same assembly, Duterte commended Health Secretary Francisco Duque III for leading the health department's efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus in the country. He said Duque has the “expertise" and is considered the "most seasoned" Cabinet member. He made the remark after Duque was slammed by some lawmakers for his department’s allegedly slow response in containing the virus in the country. Duterte, however, frowned on "kibitzers in politics, idiots if you may" who sow fear and misinformation about the coronavirus. "Eh kung isa lang ang namatay (If only one person dies) and you hardly cannot connect it with the coronavirus, then that is really a parang… you sound an alarm there and it’s a stupid thing," he said. Duterte said the world has endured past health challenges such as the Spanish flu but managed to overcome such emergencies. "Let it be. If it’s our time, which is also the --- wala ka namang ibang (you have no other) refuge as an answer, you just say na kung panahon ko na, panahon ko naman talaga (if it’s my time, it’s my time),” he said. He also said Filipinos have "strong antibodies" to resist the virus infection, citing that locals are known to pray hard as well as follow rules compared to others. "We are better off than the others actually in following rules. It is when you do not follow the rules that trouble comes in. And that is true for every human act," he said.