MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Wednesday it is “perfectly legal” for the government to prevent health workers from going abroad for the sake of their safety.
President Rodrigo Duterte, during an earlier public address, said he will consult the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the legality of stopping health workers from migrating to other countries amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Perfectly legal,” Roque said in an interview over ANC.
“In fact, that’s pursuant to the general welfare clause, it is an exercise of police power because the primary basis for the President’s concern is that these people are going to the most dangerous places as far as COVID-19 is concerned,” he explained.
Roque noted that health workers usually migrate in the United States, Italy, or Spain, which are the “places with the most number of cases.”
“Of course, if we are restricting travel to these places, why are we allowing them now to work in these places?” he said.
“And at the same time, of course, there’s the issue of, what about our own medical needs?” he added.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) had temporarily suspended the deployment of workers abroad so they could help the country in fighting the pandemic.
But the deployment ban was recalled, allowing nurses and other health care workers with existing contracts to return to their jobs abroad.