Testing czar Vince Dizon said he underwent isolation due to his exposure to Palace spokesman Harry Roque, who earlier tested positive for COVID-19.
Senator Risa Hontiveros likewise confirmed she is on self-quarantine after coming in contact with a person who later on tested positive.
Hontiveros said she was exposed on March 5 to a host of a show that tackled Women’s Month issues. The said host tested positive for the disease on March 12.
Dizon, who is also president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, said he was last in contact with Roque Friday last week.
“But I am absolutely okay,” he told ABS-CBN News.
Roque said he has informed all his close contacts of his swab test result, including Dizon, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc who he interacted with Friday morning, and those who went to church with him on Sunday.
“There are not that many close contacts. I think the footages will bear me out that I am really strict in wearing a mask and face shield,” the Palace official said.
Marcos on a Facebook post said he will undergo quarantine as he was a close contact of Roque.
Hontiveros, for her part, said she tested negative on March 12 but will still complete her 14-day quarantine.
Several senators have earlier contracted the disease, namely Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sonny Angara, Aquilino Pimentel III, Bong Revilla Jr., and Ronald Dela Rosa.
Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor on Tuesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 two weeks ago and will have his final test today.
Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong on Monday night announced that she tested positive for COVID-19.
Earlier this week, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto underwent a two-week quarantine after his driver contracted the disease and subsequently died from it.
For his part, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate described Roque as “pasaway” (stubborn) and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas, who also contracted the disease, as the epitome of “impunity.”
“Sec. Roque is the ultimate example of ‘pasaway’ for visiting different places in the country as if daring the COVID virus to infect him. From socializing with dolphins to going out without a mask or face shield and attending fiestas, he’s done all those,” Zarate said in a statement.
Sinas, on the other hand, reportedly skipped triage during his visit in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on the same day that he received his positive swab test result.
“He may have infected many people in the gatherings he attended. Yet, until now, he has not been sanctioned for his careless actions endangering the lives of many citizens,” the lawmaker said, referring to Sinas’ controversial birthday mañanita party in May 2020.
Calapan Mayor Arnan Panaligan, however, said Sinas was allowed to the province under the relaxed travel measures adopted by the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19.
The uniform protocol removed required documents such as travel authority, medical certificate, and quarantine if the visitor shows no symptoms.
“We cannot yet establish violation of protocols because the only requirements are online registration and confirmation. He went through those processes,” Panaligan said.
Local police officers who were exposed to Sinas have been isolated and have yet to show symptoms, the mayor added.