MANILA, Philippines–The “island paradise” finally has a name, though officials have yet to make a final announcement about it.
Sources say that awaiting the Philippine Contingent to Liberia is Caballo Island, a lump of rock 4.18 kilometers east of Corregidor Island.
Health workers in protective gear carry the body of a person suspected to have died from Ebola on the street of Monrovia, Liberia. AP
Just like its storied neighbor, Caballo Island has some history of its own as American troops used it as a base during World War II and called it Fort Hughes.
In present times, Philippine Navy personnel use it as their base.
The 112 Filipino UN peacekeepers are coming from a mission at Ebola-stricken Liberia.
They were initially said to be quarantined at their headquarters in Tarlac, but Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Catapang scrapped the plan following security concerns raised by the people of the province.
On Thursday, several Defense and Military officials held an ocular inspection on the area with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Office for Civil Administrator Alexander Pama leading the way.
Lieutenant General Jeffrey Delgado, Commanding General Philippine Air Force, Vice Admiral Jesus Millan, Flag Officer in Command Philippine Navy, Colonel Roberto Ancan, Peacekeeping Operations Center Commander and Navy Captain Luzviminda Camacho, Task Group Liberia Commander, joined Gazmin and Pama in the observation.
“All of Caballo Island is a military base, there are no civilians there,” one of the sources privy to the matter said. “If there are civilians there, they are employees of ours.”
The other source said there are repairs being conducted in the area since it would be used for the 21-day quarantine of the 112 Peacekeepers that would arrive on November 11.
“There are repairs and improvements going on as it has unique requirements,” the source said. “The government is making all preparations for the safety and comfort of our personnel.”
“Of course, there is somewhat of a morale factor there.”
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