MANILA, Philippines — A party-list lawmaker is on self-quarantine in the Philippines and was “perfectly alright”, contrary to reports that he is quarantined in Hong Kong amid the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) threat.
Jose Luis Montales, Secretary General of the House of Representatives, belied claims that CIBAC Party-list Rep. Domingo Rivera is quarantined in Hong Kong (HK) following an official trip.
“Cong. Rivera is not quarantined in HK. He is in the Philippines. He is perfectly alright. He practiced self-quarantine because he traveled to HK to attend a series of consultative meetings,” Rivera said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.
During the House committee on Metro Manila Development’s hearing on the government response to nCoV and other health issues faced by the country, Manila Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to assist Rivera who is on an official mission in Hong Kong.
Lopez said Rivera was instructed to be quarantined for 14 days.
“Alam niyo po, we have fresh news coming in, na ito pong isa sa aming mga kasamahan ay na-quarantine din po. Ang nagqua-quarantine lang po samin, mga asawa po namin,” Lopez said.
(We have fresh news coming in, that one of our colleagues was quarantined. The only people who quarantine us is our wives.)
“Pero ito pong tunay na quarantine, ay isang congressman na nagngangalang Domeng Rivera. Siya po ay kasalukuyang quarantine daw po sa Hong Kong at he is representing the partlylist CIBAC of Brother Eddie [Villanueva] of the JIL (Jesus Is Lord),” the lawmaker added.
(But this one, it’s real quarantine, congressman named Domeng Rivera. He is reportedly currently quarantined in Hong Kong and he is representing the CIBAC partylist of Brother Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord.)
Temporary travel ban
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered a temporary travel ban on visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau amid the nCoV threat.
Under Duterte’s orders, foreign nationals directly coming from China and its special administrative regions—namely Hong Kong and Macau—are banned from entering the country.
Further, foreign nationals, who within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines has been to China and its special administrative regions, are also covered by the ban.
The ban, however, does not cover Filipino citizens and holders of permanent resident visas issued by the Philippine government.
Filipinos and holders of permanent resident visa coming from any place in China and its special administrative regions shall undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.