Sen. Sonny Angara has also tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease-2019, making him the third member of the Senate who contracted the disease, following Senators Migz Zubiri and Koko Pimentel.
“I regret to announce that today, March 26, I received my test result and it is positive for COVID-19,” Angara said.
“I have been feeling some symptoms like mild fever, cough, headaches, and general weakness.”
Angara assured that he has practiced strict self-quarantine since he took the test last March 16. “I have not been in contact with the public since taking the test last March 16,” he added.
Angara asked for prayers and called for continued support to all those who are in the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19.
“I ask for your prayers that together we are able to pull through this tremendous challenge,” he said.
“Let us continue to support all efforts to fight the further spread of the virus. Let us support our frontliners on the streets, in the emergency rooms, as they are key to the effort. With hope, sacrifice, and unity of effort, we shall overcome,” said the senator.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and over two dozen congressmen and House of Representative staff who may have had close contact with ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap have started taking precautionary measures such as home quarantine to spare other people from being infected with the novel coronavirus-disease 2019.
Yap, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, had earlier said that he had been tested for COVID-19 which turned out positive. He disclosed having attended a Malacañang meeting and the March 23 special session and presided over a committee hearing on March 10 in the House of Representatives.
“To put on record, I have not developed any symptom of the COVID-19,” House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said yesterday.
“I’m in the pink of health and well enough to continue performing my duties as House Majority Leader and will activate my work-from-home system,” he added.
House records revealed that aside from Cayetano and Romualdez, others who were present at the plenary hall of Congress with Yap on Monday were House Deputy Speakers Roberto Puno, Dong Gonzales, Raneo Abu, and LRay Villafuerte; House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante (NP, Manila), House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Janette Garin (NP, Iloilo) and Reps. Wilter Palma (Lakas-CMD, Zamboanga Sibugay); Precious Hipolito Castelo (PDP-Laban, Quezon City); Mikey Arroyo (Lakas-CMD, Pampanga); Bong Suntay (NPC, Quezon City); France Castro (ACT Teachers party-list); Romeo Jalosjos Jr. (NUP, Zamboanga del Note); Manny Lopez (NP, Manila); Tonypet Albano (NPC, Isabela); Jonathan Sy-Alvarado (NUP, Bulacan); Abraham Tolentino (PDP-Laban, Cavite); Francis Gerald Abaya (LP, Cavite), and Mike Defensor (Anakalusugan party-list).
Lopez, chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, said he commiserates with Yap and his family but stressed that the party-list lawmaker was just doing his job as a public servant when he caught the dreaded virus.
“I am now under home quarantine with my family,” he said.
Suntay is confident he did not catch the virus.
“I am hopeful that the precaution during the special session be enough, proper social distancing was observed, no physical contact was done, face mask was worn at all times,and it was a habit among those present to constantly sanitize their hands with alcohol,” said Suntay, chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights.
Castro went on self-quarantine after learning of Yap’s predicament. “I am fine, I drink a lot of water, take Vitamin C, exercise, and enough rest as advised by medical expert.” (Hannah Torregoza and Ben Rosario)
