GIs at Clark to be tested for SARS

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — With SARS ravaging Asia, the country’s policy for any visiting American soldier found infected with SARS is this: Return to sender.

Amid the growing threat posed by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the Department of Health (DOH) has established quarantine centers here and at the Subic Bay Freeport for the screening of all 1,500 US soldiers expected to arrive and participate in the Balikatan 03 joint military exercises that will kick off in various areas of Luzon on Friday.

"All of the US troops will be subject to health screening," Presidential Visiting Forces Agreement Commission (VFACom) executive director Amado Valdez said.

"Those found with symptoms will be quarantined for 10 days and those found positive for SARS would be immediately sent back to where they came from," Valdez added. Over 200 people worldwide have died of SARS.

Maj. Allan Ballesteros, spokesman for the 600th Air Force Wing at Clark Field, said a 747 aircraft is set to arrive today, ferrying US marines participating in Balikatan 03. He said another US military vessel is also expected to arrive at Subic Bay in Zambales today ferrying more US troops from various US bases in Asia.

Hundreds of US soldiers already arrived over the weekend at Subic and they have already undergone screening by DOH personnel manning the quarantine center at the former US naval base.

Valdez said the American soldiers are expected to join 2,000 of their Filipino counterparts in the exercises to be held here, at Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac; Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija, and at a Navy training site in Ternate, Cavite.

"The health measures (have) to be (taken) amid the possibility that some American military personnel might have vacationed in other (SARS affected) areas such as Hong Kong, Singapore or China, where cases of SARS have mounted," Valdez said.

At least 68 US military personnel comprising an advance party of the US contingent have reportedly been staying at the Holiday Inn Hotel here since last week.

Security at the gates of the Clark Special Economic Zone has been tightened since the arrival of the American soldiers, with Filipino military personnel clad in camouflage uniforms and bearing long firearms complementing security guards and inspecting all vehicles entering and exiting Clark.

US military authorities are again expected to prohibit American participants in the joint exercises from venturing out of Clark Field for security reasons.

Two years ago, however, US soldiers were allowed to spend their free time in selected nightclubs and restaurants in Angeles City, Pampanga — particularly along Fields Avenue near Clark’s main gate in Barangay Balibago.

Fields Avenue was once a red light district frequented by US servicemen before the US air force vacated what was then called the Clark Air Base complex in 1991.

While American servicemen were no longer the main clientele of the skin trade along Fields Avenue after 1991, the area continued to attract mostly male foreign tourists.