DOH chief: No regrets asking Pacquiao for self-quarantine

MANILA, Philippines - Amid the revelry surrounding Filipino boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny" Pacquiao Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III does not regret asking him to quarantine himself as a precaution against the A(H1N1) virus. Duque maintained in a radio interview that he was merely being cautious about the situation, adding all other incoming passengers were given the same advice to quarantine themselves. “Lahat ng bansa nagre-report nito ... Tungkulin natin yan magbigay ng tamang info sa taumbayan, di tayo namimili sino ang binibigyan ng information. Marami kasi nag-iisip baka sila lang pinagtalunan ng pansin. Di totoo yan. Kailangan buong bansa lahat na byaherong papasok bigyan ng information at kaalaman (All nations have to report any suspected case. It’s our job, no matter who that person is)," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. He dismissed claims by his critics that he was "OA" or “overacting" when he asked Pacquiao to quarantine himself. "Ah hindi totoo yan (That's not true)," he said. Duque also chided some sectors for equating quarantine with isolation, saying quarantine merely means observing oneself for symptoms of A(H1N1). The health secretary also pointed out even President Arroyo went through the proper procedures, including a thermal scan, when she arrived from a trip to Egypt and Syria last week. “Si Pangulo mismo nagbigay ng halimbawa, she took time to go through thermal scan. Dala ng di sapat na understanding sa proseso (The President herself set the example, she took time to undergo the thermal scan. We have to clear the air of possible misunderstandings about our procedures)," he said. Earlier, Duque drew flak for urging Pacquiao to quarantine himself before returning from the United States where he defeated British fighter Ricky Hatton in two rounds. But Pacquiao ignored the advice and returned home Friday. - GMANews.TV