Embassy scores Thai newspaper for referring to Philippines as 'Land of COVID-19'

The Philippine Embassy in Thailand has expressed "deep dissatisfaction" over a story in a local newspaper that carried a story on returning Filipino teachers and branding the the Philippines as the "Land of COVID-19."

The statement is based on the Aug. 9, 2020 issue of the Thai newspaper, Thai Rath, that carried a story on the arrival of 165 Filipino teachers at the Suvarnabhumi Airport on Aug. 8, 2020.

The embassy sent a letter, signed by by Consul General Val Simon T. Roque, addressed to Thai Rath Editor in Chief Saravut Vacharapol.

"The Philippines Embassy wishes to express its deep dissatisfaction over the characterization in the headline of the Philippines in relation to the return of the teachers," Roque said in the letter.

"The characterization is inappropriate, insensitive, and unhelpful at a time when all of us, brothers and sisters in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), are closely cooperating with the new and unforeseen challenges brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)," he added.

The embassy also assured the staff members and readers of the Thai newspaper that the teachers and other Filipinos returning to Thailand "are following and will strictly follow all the health protocols and quarantine conditions promulgated by the Royal Thai government."

"We at the Philippine Embassy can also attest to the diligence and professionalism of Thai civil servants at the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila, the airports, and the Ministry of Public Health in ensuring that the foregoing protocols and quarantine requirements are stringently followed so that the Kingdom can continue to manage the COVID situation very well," said Roque.

Roque voiced hope that the statement issued by the embassy be relayed to the public through the Thai newspaper for the information of the general public, "so that we can all promote unity and harmony to effectively deal with the COVID-19 pandemic during this difficult time." -BAP/NB, GMA News