PN vessels leave India with face masks, 18 stranded Filipinos

May 8, 2020

The Philippine Navy vessels initially deployed to Middle East have started its journey back to the country after leaving Indian port on Thursday.

Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, Philippine Navy acting public affairs director, said Naval Task Force (NTF) 82 led by Marine Col Noel Beleran onboard BRP Davao Del Sur (LD602) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) departed Conchin,  India.

 "NTF 82 is ferrying home 200 thousand pieces of donated face masks for the government's fight against COVID-19 and 18 Filipino tourist repatriates who were stranded in India due to the pandemic," she said.

Roxas said the PN medical team, "equipped with proper PPEs (personal protective equipment), carefully executed the onboarding process of these repatriates which began with  disinfection of their belongings, thermal scanning and taking of vital signs."

"They were pre-determined to be coronavirus negative but still contained in a separate portion of LD602 under constant monitoring of medical personnel," she said.

This repatriation was in coordination with our defense and armed forces attaché and representatives from the Philippine Embassy in India, said Roxas.

Roxas said the two vessels are expected to arrive in the Philippines before the end of the month. Robina Asido/DMS