By Raymund Antonio  Vice President Leni Robredo has nothing but good words to say about the Health Emergency Response Team that repatriated 30 Filipinos from Wuhan, China, where the 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak originated. Vice President Leni Robredo
(Charlie Villegas, OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) Speaking on her Sunday radio program, “BISErbisyong Leni,” Robredo lauded the 8-man team for “risking their health and lives” to repatriate the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “Gusto natin bigyan ng pagpugay at pasasalamat iyong team na pumunta sa Wuhan (We want to pay tribute and thank the team that went to China),” she said over radio station dzXL. The vice president welcomed the repatriation of the first batch of OFWs as a “best move” by the national government agencies. The repatriation was carried out by the team from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Health (DOH). They arrived at Clark Air Base around 7 a.m. on Sunday. The repatriates, composed of 29 adults and an infant, were immediately transferred upon arrival to the New Clark City in Tarlac to undergo a 14-day quarantine. Robredo reiterated the need for heightened information drive to help prevent public panic caused by the spread of fake news about China’s new coronavirus. “Most of the source of fear of many people is the lack of information about the situation so the local and national government agencies should help each other to disseminate proper information,” she said. Calling it a “symbol of protection” for Filipinos, Robredo noted the lack of supply of face masks in the market has also caused public fear over the global spread of the virus. “Kailangang ipaliwanag na may mabuting practices na pwede nilang magamit kahit hindi available iyong face masks (It needs to be explained there are best practices that they can use even the face masks are not available),” she said. A native of Bicol, Robredo said there was still no confirmed case of 2019-nCoV in her hometown of Naga City while she cited a report that three patients had been placed under investigation for symptoms of the disease in Albay, Legaspi. According to the DOH, the number of persons under investigation (PUIs) for possible infection along with the confirmed cases of the 2019-NcoV in the country has risen to 267 as of Saturday. Of this number, 230 are currently admitted and isolated in hospitals; 13 refused admission; and 17 have been discharged but remain under “strict monitoring.”