BY MARTIN A. SADONGDONG
Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, Flag-Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy (PN), tested negative for COVID-19, the military said Sunday.
However, two crew members of the BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) have COVID-19 based on the results of their swab tests, said Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, Navy Public Affairs Office chief.
Bacordo was swabbed last Tuesday and went on self-quarantine after he attended the commissioning ceremony on July 10 of the BRP Jose Rizal in Subic, Zambales where one of the Navy men was confirmed to be COVID positive.
Aside from Bacordo, other top Navy officers who tested negative for COVID were Rear Admiral Rey dela Cruz, Navy vice commander; Rear Admiral Loumer Bernabe, Philippine Fleet commander; and Commodore Karl Decapia, Offshore Combat Force commander.
According to Roxas, the two crew members of BRP Jose Rizal have been evacuated to a quarantine facility ashore for further medical treatment.
Despite the infection of the crew members, Roxas said it will not affect the preparation of the contingent which will participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military drill in Hawaii in August.
“Preparations for the ship’s departure this July 29 to participate in RIMPAC 2020 in Hawaii are ongoing,” she said.
