Palace: No expansion of travel ban yet but it was ‘highly recommended’ to Duterte

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — There is no expansion of travel ban yet on countries with cases of the new COVID-19 variant, but it was “highly recommended” to President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this after reports surfaced that apart from the United Kingdom, the travel ban has been expanded to 19 other countries.

“Antayin po natin ang desisyon ng Presidente. Magpapalabas po ng something in writing ang Office of the President.  Ang alam ko po, highly recommended ng IATF at ng DOH ‘yung travel bans sa mga bansa na meron nang new [COVID] variants,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(Let’s wait for the decision of the President. The Office of the President will come out with something in writing. As far as I know, the IATF and DOH are highly recommending the travel ban among countries with reported new variant of COVID-19.)

“Pero sabi po ng Presidente, kinakailangan kahit sinong Pilipino na nais makauwi, dapat makauwi. Imposible po yan kung magkakaroon tayo ng travel ban.”

(But the President has said that is necessary for any Filipino to go home if they want to go home. But that would be impossible if we have a travel ban.)

“If you ask me, is there now currently a travel ban? My answer is no. Will there be? Perhaps. Anong detalye? Let’s wait for it,” Roque went on.

JPV