Philippines ready to repatriate 500 Filipinos on cruise ship in US

The government is ready to repatriate the hundreds of Filipinos on board a cruise ship stranded off California coast in the United States over COVID-19 fears, Malacañang said on Friday .

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the government would grant if a request for repatriation was made.

“Kung hinihingi nila ang repatriation, we will do it. Wala pa akong naririnig,”  Panelo told reporters.

More than 500 out of the estimated 3,500 people on board the Grand Princess cruise ship are Filipinos.

The ship was quarantined following the death of a previous passenger due to the novel coronavirus. Some of its passengers have also displayed flu-like symptoms.

"Ang Amerika napakagaling sa containment. I think the protocols of the US [are] topnotch," Panelo said.

Last month, a total of 445 Filipinos aboard the coronavirus-stricken cruise ship Diamond Princess docked in Japan were sent back to the Philippines.

These repatriates are currently under quarantine at the New Clark City in Tarlac. —NB, GMA News