The Malay Task Force against 2019 novel coronavirus on Thursday said they did not violate the travel ban imposed by the government after Chinese tourists were seen in Boracay Island in the last few days.

“We did not know where the information came from but we did not violate the ban,” Task Force Deputy Information Manager Madel Joy Tayco told The Daily Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.

This is the local government’s response to Senator Joel Villanueva statement that they are “irresponsible for disregarding the ban for profit”.

“The Chinese (tourists) that are here are already in the Philippines even before the lockdown, even before the travel ban,” Tayco said.

According to their data, as of Thursday morning around 303 Chinese  checked-in at different resorts in Boracay are being monitored.

Tayco said the number of Chinese tourists went down but she has yet to get the final data.

“All Chinese who entered (the island) were PUMs (persons under monitoring)… advisory is to monitor them and they are currently staying at their hotels,” she said.

Tayco said the local government is tracing all locals and foreigners, who have history of travelling to China.

“It is the primary concern right now,” she said.

She added Boracay Island is still “safe and virus-free” as they have zero case of persons under investigation (PUI).

The local government conducted an information blast to prevent residents from worrying and panicking.

“They are now at ease after knowing how they can protect themselves and prevent (being infected),” Tayco said. Ella Dionisio/DMS

President Rodrigo Duterte expressed optimism on Thursday that peace with the communist New People’s Army ( NPA) could be reached much earlier.

“At the rate that the NPAs are surrendering, apaprently I think that we’d be able to realize peace much earlier,” Duterte said in a speech during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-appointed government officials in Malacanang.

He said the government has to comply with its promise of assisting the former Maoist rebels return to their normal lives.

“But the most important thing is to come up and comply with the promise to the rebels,” Duterte said.

The government has been implementing the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) for rebel returnees. The program included extending cash and livelihood assistance to the former rebels.

The military has said many NPA rebels, particularly in Mindanao, have  surrendered and availed of the government’s integration program.

Duterte terminated the formal peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front in 2017. Celerina Monte/DMS