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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Quarantine area for Filipino Muslims proposed to be built on isolated island in Basilan -- military

Quarantine area for Filipino Muslims proposed to be built on isolated island in Basilan -- military

Published Mar 20, 2020 12:00 am
By Martin Sadongdong 
A quarantine area is being eyed to be built on Sibakel Island in Basilan province for about 200 Filipino passengers from Malaysia who got stuck on sea vessels after being barred from entering western Mindanao amid the threat of  coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, the military reported on Friday.
(photo courtesy of Western Mindanao Command/MANILA BULLETIN) (photo courtesy of Western Mindanao Command/MANILA BULLETIN)
 
Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), said an inspection team already made rounds and checked on the conditions of Sibakel Island to  determine the feasibility of building a quarantine area there.
 
Sibakel Island, according to Sobejana, is an isolated area with no existing infrastructure nor water resource, but can house 200 persons.
 
"The military's intervention was brought about by reports of Filipinos returning from Malaysia," Sobejana said. "We have to accept them but they have to undergo quarantine procedures."
 
Sobejana was referring to reports saying that 215 Filipino Muslims attended a religious gathering called "tabligh" in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Feb. 27 to March 1. 
 
The event was linked to a cluster of COVID-19 infections in Southeast Asia where one Filipino, reportedly a resident of Lanao del Sur, tested positive for COVID-19. 
 
Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei have since reported a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases that were linked to the gathering.
 
Sobejana said they have accounted for 10 children on the stranded vessels.
 
"The passengers will have to undergo medical screenings to determine whether they are persons under monitoring (PUM) or investigation (PUI)," the military official said.
 
He said the military intends to install 100 tents on Sibakel Island, but the Department of Health (DOH) field office in the region has yet to deliberate on the proposal as resources will have to be rationalized.
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