By ROY C. MABASA
Filipinos onboard the coronavirus-infected cruise ship M/V Diamond Princess docked in Yokohama, Japan will be repatriated tomorrow, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said yesterday.
Locsin made the announcement a day after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) vowed to bring home more than 400 Filipino crewmembers of the ship, the second batch of repatriates from areas affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The DFA earlier said the 14-day mandatory quarantine can be done in Japan or in the Philippines as they await all the test results of the Filipino crewmembers.
DFA Assistant Secretary Eduardo Meñez said those already declared COVID-positive are confined in Japanese health facilities and will be brought back home as soon as they recover.
On Saturday, the DFA said 49 of the 538 Filipino crew and passengers on the cruise ship have tested positive for the disease. Two were successfully treated and discharged from the hospital.
As soon as they return, the repatriates will be brought to the Athletes Village in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac for the 14-day quarantine.
