Duterte admin’s Cabinet members negative for COVID-19

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea (L), DPWH Secretary Mark Villar (C), Finance chief Carlos Dominguez. FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — Three Cabinet members of the Duterte administration have tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, days after they underwent self-quarantine after being exposed to an infected person.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed in a text message to reporters Sunday that he did not contract the disease. But he noted that he has “to pursue (the) self-quarantine” protocol.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Build, Build, Build Committee chairperson Anna Mae Lamentillo announced in a Facebook post that DPWH Secretary Mark Villar also tested negative of the virus.

Meanwhile, Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino confirmed that Fc likewise tested negative for COVID-19.

The officials subjected themselves to the proposed 14-day self-quarantine after interacting with a COVID-19 positive person during a March 5 event in Caloocan City. 

READ: LIST: Philippine gov’t officials who are on self-quarantine

During the said event, the three officials were with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who was earlier announced negative of COVID-19, a respiratory disease that has so far infected 111 people and killed eight in the country.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic after it killed more than 5,000 people and affected over 152,000 worldwide.

KGA