MANILA, Philippines — “Galit ba sa Pilipino ang taong ito?”
This was the question posed by Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday night after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that a travel ban on the United Kingdom should only be considered once there is already a community transmission of the new coronavirus variant in the European country.
“Hayaan daw munang kumalat sa Pilipinas ang Covid 19 variant mula sa UK bago mag travel ban. Galit ba sa Pilipino ang taong ito?” Lacson said in a tweet.
(Allow the spread of the new COVID-19 variant from the UK first before a travel ban. Is this man mad with Filipinos?)
Duque’s office has clarified that the Health chief was referring to countries with the reported cases of the new variant, not just in the UK.
Senator Francis Pangilinan likewise thumbed down Duque’s remark.
Hayaan daw munang kumalat sa Pilipinas ang Covid 19 variant mula sa UK bago mag travel ban. Galit ba sa Pilipino ang taong ito?
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) December 26, 2020
It was during a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and other members of the Cabinet when Duque made the remark which has also drawn the ire of netizens.
However, Duque’s office clarified that the Health chief was referring to countries with the reported cases of the new variant, not just in the UK.
The Philippines has suspended flights from the UK starting December 24 until December 31.
Several countries have already imposed a travel ban on the UK, including Canada, Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, and Germany, to prevent the new strain’s entry.
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