Filipino peacekeepers from Liberia relax on 1st day

Filipino peacekeepers. Phil. Navy photo

MANILA, Philippines–They had the whole day to just loll around.

The 133 Filipino peacekeepers who had just returned from Ebola virus-stricken Liberia spent their first full day of quarantine Thursday on Caballo Island sleeping and just taking it easy.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief, said no activities were scheduled for the peacekeepers to allow them to get a good rest following their long trip from Africa. Their activities, which will include gardening, will start Friday, he said.

Cabunoc said the peacekeepers were in “high spirits” although some were complaining of the intermittent Internet connection due to technical problems experienced by the two service providers, Smart and Globe.

“They have no scheduled activities today (Thursday)… they slept all day to regain their strength after their long flight from Liberia,” Cabunoc said.

“They will have routine calls, morning calisthenics or jogging… they will do gardening and some sports activities like chess. In short, they will not get bored,” said Cabunoc.

So far, none of the peacekeepers has shown symptoms of Ebola infection.

The “island paradise” provided by the Philippine Navy for the mandatory 21-day quarantine has air-conditioned igloos that serve as billeting rooms with cable television.

On Friday, the peacekeepers will start cooking their own food to be provided by support staff under the AFP Joint Task Group Liberia led by Capt. Luzviminda Camacho.