Philippines remains Ebola-free, says Palace
Malacanang on Sunday has dispelled fears that
the fatal ebola virus may have reached the country.
Presidential Communication Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., told reporters in a press briefing over dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan, that the country remains ebola-free.
“Ayon sa Department of Health (DOH), ang
Pilipinas ay nananatiling ebola-free. Wala pang natutunton o naiulat na kaso ng
ebola sa bansa,” said Coloma.
On Friday, DOH has cleared five out of 15
Filipino migrant workers from Sierra Leone who returned in the country last
month, while two others are still being closely monitored.
Coloma added that the DOH is equipped to handle
the situation should there be a case of ebola reaching our shores.
“Tinitiyak po ng DOH sa pangunguna ni Kalihim
(Enrique) Ona na may sapat na kakayahan at kahandaan ang pamahalaan na tumugon
sa ebola virus o ebola epidemic dahil ito po ay idineklara na ng World Health
Organization bilang isang panganib sa pandaigdigang kalusugan,” he said.
As for Filipino citizens still in the affected
countries in West Africa, Coloma said the Department of Labor and Employment
and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration are monitoring the situation.
PND (ag)
Malacanang: All Filipinos in Iraq are safe and
accounted for
All Filipinos in Iraq are safe and accounted
for, said a Palace official on Sunday.
“Ayon sa pinakahuling ulat ng DFA (Department of
Foreign Affairs), ang tinatayang 900 Pilipino sa Iraq ay nananatiling ligtas.
Ayon din sa DFA, ang mga airtstrikes ay sa mga lugar na malayo sa mga pamayanan
ng mga Pilipino o Filipino communities,” said Presidential Communication
Operations Office Secretray Herminio Coloma, Jr.
US President Barack Obama has ordered limited
air strikes against the Islamic militants in the Northern region of Iraq. This
is in response to the “potential act of genocide” in that region.
DFA has now raised the warning in Kurdistan,
Iraq to Alert Level II (restriction phase), while Alert Level IV is still in
effect in the remaining parts of the country.
“Masinsing tinututukan ang sitwasyon at handang
tumulong ang DFA kung kailangan sa paglilikas sa higit na ligtas na lugar ng
mga Pilipino sa Iraq,” Coloma added.
The Communications Secretary said the government
is monitoring the situation in Iraq closely to ensure the safety of the
Filipinos there.
“Sa kahuli-hulihang ulat, marami pa ring
nananatili doon sa Baghdad, dahil hindi naman yata mismo doon ang airstrikes.
Pero tinututukan ito ng DFA para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mamamayan,” Coloma
said. PND (ag)
Malacanang saddened by the passing of one of the
Communications officials
Malacañang expressed sadness over the passing of
one of the ranking officials at the Presidential Communications Operations
Office (PCOO), Eduardo Visperas, the Undersecretary for Finance and
Administration.
Visperas died of a lingering illness Sunday morning,
according to Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., who broke the news
during his regular weekend press briefing over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
Coloma extended his deepest condolences to the
family and loved ones left behind by one of his undersecretaries.
“Nakikiramay po tayo sa mga mahal sa buhay,
pamilya, at naiwan ng ating kasamahan sa Presidential Communications Operations
Office. Si Undersecretary Eduardo Visperas po, ang ating Undersecretary for
Finance and Administration, ay pumanaw po kaninang umaga. Kaya ito po ay
ikinalulungkot natin at nakikiramay po tayo sa kanyang pamilya,” Coloma said.
PND (hdc)
Palace assures South Koreans, other foreigners
their safety is top priority
The Palace on Sunday assured South Korean
nationals and other foreigners visiting and living in the country that they are
safe during their stay here.
Presidential Communication Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., is commenting on the statement issued by the
South Korean embassy in Manila that the government should strengthen measures
to protect their citizens visiting and living in the country.
South Korean Ambassador Lee Hyuk in a statement
said “pre-emptive action” must be done to allay the anxiety among South Koreans
here in the Philippines.
“Para sa kanila (South Koreans) at para sa lahat
ng mga galing sa ibang bansa na naninirahan dito at para sa ating mga
mamamayan, mahalagang tungkulin ng ating pamahalaan na pangalagaan ang kanilang
kaligtasan at ang katahimikan at kaayusan ng ating mga komunidad. Kaya gusto po
nating bigyan ng assurance ang embahada ng (South) Korea na ito po ay mayroong
pinakamataas na prayoridad mula sa ating pamahalaan,” said Coloma in a press
briefing over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.
According to the South Korean envoy, their
nationals are being targeted by criminals.
“Sisikapin po nating matanggal ang agam-agam at
maalis ang ligalig nila para magpatuloy ang mainam na pakikipag-ugnayan ng
ating dalawang bansa at para naman mapanatag ang kalooban ng kanilang mga mamamayan
dito sa ating bansa,” said Coloma. PND (ag)
