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

A 58-year-old Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) died in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from coronavirus last January 29, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Thursday.

Bello aid he was informed by the Labor Attache in Dubai that it was discovered the cause of death was” coronavirus”.

“It was confirmed as coronavirus as of February 2,” said Bello.

Asked whether it was caused by the 2019-nCoV, he said he is uncertain.

“Coronavirus. I didn’t see 2019-nCoV,” said Bello. DMS

Eight police chiefs in Metro Manila who failed to curb illegal gambling operations in their areas  were relieved Thursday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa had warned officers to address illegal gambling in their jurisdiction or be relieved.

These reports  were validated by the  Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group through raids of gambling dens and seizure of video  karera machines

Five of the relieved officials are assigned with the Southern Police
District. They are  Captains Ricky Culanding, Rommel Bulan, and Marvin Oloan, chiefs of Police Community Precincts 1, 2 and 3 in Pasay City.

The other two were  Majors Christopher Mercado and Elmer Gutierrez of PCPs 2 and 3 in Muntinlupa City.  Also relieved was Maj. Fortunato Ecle Jr., officer-in-charge of the Cubao Police Station in Quezon City.

The remaining two are Majors Joebie Astucia and Merben Bryan Lago,
commanders of PCPs  3 and 5 in Caloocan City.

They were all reassigned to the Regional Police Holding and Accounting
Section of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Camp
Bagong Diwa, Taguig. DMS

The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is coordinating with Japanese authorities in providing necessary assistance to the 538 Filipinos on the MV Diamond Princess  docked at Yokohama Harbor under a 14-day quarantine period.

In a statement Thursday, the embassy said they provided Filipino passengers food, medicine, masks and other supplies.

The embassy gave its assistance-to-nationals hotline phone number and email, so Filipinos can contact the embassy.

According to the Philippine Embassy, as of Thursday, another group of 10 people onboard the Diamond Princess were tested positive for nCoV.

“Aside from the first reported case yesterday, no other Filipinos onboard have tested positive for the virus at this time,” the statement said . DMS