MANILA, Philippines—Some families of Filipino peacekeepers returning from Ebola-stricken Liberia chose to go to Villamor Airbase even if they would only witness the arrival on livestream.
“OK lang ganun talaga eh. Sunod lang tayo para sa kaligtasan. Nakaya nga yung nine months eh ano pa yung 21 days?” said one wife of a peacekeeper on Wednesday.
The 133 peacekeepers arrived via UT Air at about 5 p.m. They were transported to Sangley Point in Cavite where a sea vessel awaits to bring them to Caballo island near Corregidor, where they will be quarantined for three weeks.
Some relatives of peacekeepers stayed at the Villamor Airbase to watch the livestream of the arrival of the UN Peacekeepers from Liberia.
The peacekeepers all passed the Ebola screening conducted by the United Nations. The procedure is a requirement for the peacekeepers before returning to their home countries.
The deadly Ebola virus has killed 5,000 people since December last year and Liberia is one of the countries in West Africa affected by it.
Identities of the peacekeepers and their families were withheld as recommended by the Department of Health to give them privacy and in order to avoid possible negative reaction from society.
The wife, who is married to a soldier with a rank of a Staff Sergeant, was in constant communication with her husband throughout his deployment to Liberia. But despite that, there was a time she was worried because of the news on the Ebola outbreak.
“Syempre natatakot ako. Nagdadasal ako. Nag-uusap kami tuwing gabi. Sabi niya OK lang ako wag kang mag-alala. Basta alam ko wala [siyang Ebola] at malakas ang kutob ko,” she said.
Both are married for 14 years and they have five children.
Despite the extended absence of her peacekeeper husband, the wife was very happy that he was finally home.
“At least buo siyang bumalik. Hindi yung pantay na ang paa. Ngayon masaya talaga ako,” she said.
The audience at the viewing area broke into applause as the peacekeepers disembarked from the plane.
Air Force chief Lieutenant General Jeffrey Delgado welcomed the peacekeepers and announced that they all have passed the screening from thermal scanners.
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