Quarantine for Pinoys coming from US should apply to all – Nograles

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Prospero Nograles on Saturday said he would not object to plans to quarantine Philippine lawmakers arriving from the United States so long as it applies to others. “No problem as long as rule applies to all public and private persons who came from America, and not selective only whether high or low position in government," Nograles said in a text message from Las Vegas, where he and an undetermined number of legislators flew to witness the fight between Manny Pacquiao and British fighter Ricky Hatton on Sunday. The House leader, who never missed a fight of the Filipino boxing champion, tagged along his two sons to Las Vegas but clarified that he was not using public funds, but was using his personal account. Nograles said that he was more than willing to undergo quarantine to set a good example. “If the law or rule applies to all, yes," he said. He also cautioned Health Secretary Francisco Duque against imposing a selective policy, especially since there are other passengers, aside from lawmakers, who came from either Las Vegas, California or Mexico. “To target and single out only the congressmen would be grossly discriminatory and malicious. Careful, careful," he said, adding that congressmen should not just be the “specific targets" but those US-inbound passengers. Duque’s announcement was on offshoot of the suggestion made by Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño and Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson to quarantine lawmakers coming from Las Vegas when they return to the country. Secretary Duque has clarified that all passengers arriving to the country from Mexico and the US will also be screened and quarantined for possible infection with the H1N1 virus or swine virus and not only congressmen. He also shrugged off criticisms that the House of Representatives failed to muster the needed 133 quorum during Wednesday’s sessions since around 50 lawmakers were reportedly flying to Las Vegas. “Quorum has nothing to do with boxing. As in the past, Pacman has fought many, many times before and it didn’t affect legislative work," said Nograles. Health officials claimed that everybody coming into the Philippines will undergo thermal screening to check them for fever. If found positive, they would be isolated and further evaluated to determine if they were infected with the virus. If the passengers do not have fever, they should be asked to perform self-monitoring tasks for 10 days, then immediately report to the Department of Health if fever develops within that period. Earlier, Nograles, who claimed to be a member of Team Pacquiao said “I have never missed his fights. Pacquiao is the pride of Mindanao and I am a part of his team. I have never used government funds to watch his fights." Nograles also stressed that he did not approve any official travel of his colleagues going there, adding that they will be spending their personal resources. The Speaker said he only approves the official travels of congressmen but does not “interfere" in the unofficial trips of House members who are expected to pay for their own expenses. - GMANews.TV