MANILA, Philippines—There will be no high fives, hugging or kissing when Manny Pacquiao arrives on Friday from his historic conquest of Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton in Las Vegas.

Instead, the champ will be met by swine flu busters and subjected to a thermal scan, foot bath and asked to fill out a health checklist—things that any ordinary mortal goes through on arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in the midst of a global alert for an A(H1N1) epidemic.

Doctors from the Bureau of Quarantine will be posted at the arrival concourse to guide his entourage and see to it that media people and other kibitzers are a good one meter away from him.

Ambulances will be on standby to whisk him away to quarantine just in case he exhibits any flu-like symptoms, said Angel Atutubo, NAIA assistant general manager for security and emergency service.

For ignoring a World Health Organization (WHO) warning that he put off his return and go on a self-imposed quarantine in Los Angeles for five days—the period signs of swine flu emerge—Pacquiao may be flirting with disaster, said Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesperson.

“It’s going to be a nightmare for the country if someone from his team exhibits signs and symptoms of the A(H1N1) virus,” Golez said.

In that case, he said health authorities would face a much more difficult task of “contact tracing” considering the countless faceless people who would be in contact with the boxer.

In interviews with Manila television and radio networks, Pacquiao said before his departure from Los Angeles that he and others in his entourage do not have any flu symptoms that could justify their quarantine. They will fly home as planned, he said.

“If you are healthy, why should you be quarantined?” he told dzBB radio.

Golez noted that the government had to quarantine at least three barangays (villages) visited by a Filipino who contracted Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) a few years ago.

A very serious matter

“Consider this a very serious matter,” Golez said in a press briefing.

Upon the recommendation of the WHO, Malacañang on Wednesday asked Pacquiao to reset his flight back home for Monday, considering that he and his entourage would be coming from Los Angeles.

The WHO had recorded a “third-generation, human-to-human transmission” of the A(H1N1) virus in the area.

But since Pacquiao has decided to return, he and his team should exercise “self-quarantine” for at least five days, according to the WHO, whose advice was sought by the Department of Health (DOH) on how to handle a returning Pacquiao and his legion of adoring fans.

Hearing about the WHO and DOH recommendations, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, a rabid Pacquiao supporter, blasted Health Secretary Francisco Duque III for what he called “unjustified anxiety” and “cruel joke.”

Healthiest Filipino now

Atienza argued that Pacquiao, who was fresh from his two-round destruction of Hatton Saturday (Sunday in Manila), “could be the healthiest Filipino now.”

Golez, a physician, replied: “Even if you are considered as the strongest man alive here, nobody is invincible to diseases, viruses or bacteria.”

He reminded Atienza, who is not a doctor, that Duque was the boss when it came to policy decisions on the A(H1N1) virus. “Whatever Duque says, that is going to be the bible.”

Golez said Atienza should “set an example” to the public by heeding the WHO recommendations.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did so and postponed her luncheon with Pacquiao for Monday. The official motorcade and the national day of celebration were also moved next week because of the WHO protocol.

“Definitely, nobody should ignore (the protocol) because we are talking about the safety of our public,” Golez said.

“Secretary Atienza should set an example, especially as an influential member of this community.”

Mass at Quiapo Church

The Philippines has no confirmed cases of swine flu, while three of five patients under observation have been cleared, Duque said.

Atienza said “no one can stop Manny from returning home because that is his right.”

Pacquiao and his entourage, including his wife and mother, will arrive on board a Philippine Airlines plane early morning around 6 a.m.

Atienza said Pacquiao would check into a Makati hotel to rest. At around 10 a.m., Pacquiao will hear Mass at the Quiapo Church. In the afternoon, he will attend a special event for him organized by television network GMA 7 at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

The rescheduling of the motorcade, Atienza said, is due to Typhoon “Emong” (international codename: Chan Hom) and could give Pacquiao the chance to get some rest. “They want him to go on some sort of quarantine anyway.”

‘Social distancing’

Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said Pacquiao should take it upon himself to practice “social distancing” for the next few days. “I think it’s a personal precaution, to protect himself and protect others.”

“We are a democratic country, we can’t really say (what he should do). But his is a unique case because the people will mob him. Those kissing him, imagine all the possible flu virus,” Villaverde trailed off. With reports from Alcuin Papa, Dona Z. Pazzibugan, and Associated Press