Sulu seeks IATF help in talks regarding repatriation of Pinoys from Sabah

Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan has requested the national government to help the province in its negotiation with the Malaysian government about the repatriation of Filipinos from Sabah following the detection of a new COVID-19 variant there.

"We are seeking the support of national government, especially the IATF, to support us of measures that we may deem appropriate and to intervene and negotiate with the Malaysian government to suspend repatriation of Filipinos, undocumented Filipinos from Sabah," Tan said in an interview on ANC.

IATF refers to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, the government's policy-making body in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier reports said Malaysia’s Health Ministry has called the new variant as the "A701B" mutation. However, it is unsure if it is more infectious than the usual coronavirus variant.

According to Tan, the local government has been strict with its health protocols to ensure that the spread of the virus in the province will be prevented.

He said visitors must get a clearance before entering the province.

"We are able to control travel. They have to seek clearance from Sulu IATF or task force COVID-19 which I personally sign. All travel documents I personally sign for the purpose of ensuring that nobody gets in without clearance from us. They should be screened," Tan said.

In his address over the weekend, President Rodrigo Duterte said the Sulu Task Force COVID-19 has urged the public to remain calm and heed advisories from official sources amid the discovery of the new coronavirus variant. —KBK, GMA News