Bukidnon mayors who met with Zubiri in Manila go on home quarantine

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Bukidnon mayors who met and dined with Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri have subjected themselves to home quarantine after the lawmaker has announced he tested positive of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection.

This was the assurance given by Cabanglasan town mayor Renante Inocando, president of the Bukidnon chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).

Inocando said that when they were back home in Bukidnon following the LMP annual assembly in Manila, many of them were advised by their respective municipal health officers to go on home quarantine.

Shortly after, they learned of Zubiri’s COVID-19 infection.

Inocando said he and 17 other town mayors from Bukidnon had lunch with Zubiri at a Manila restaurant on March 10, the second day of the three-day LMP annual national assembly.

A lunch or dinner with Zubiri has become a sort of tradition whenever the province’s local officials are in the national capital, he noted.

Those who did not attend the luncheon were the mayors from Impasugong and Kitaotao.

The mayor said Zubiri had no slight indication of being ill when they met.

“I saw him walking briskly towards us. He looks fit. He did not even sneeze or cough during the entire time that we were with him,” Inocando said.

He said the senator told them not to shake hands with him, reminding them to observe social distancing, which is one of the ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection.

Inocando said Zubiri came in with his brother, Bukidnon 3rd District Rep. Manuel Zubiri, and three of his senatorial staff, at about the time the mayors were finishing their meal.

“He sat at the end of a long table and talked to us as he ate,” he said, adding the meeting lasted for almost an hour.

Inocando said they had a photo taken with Zubiri before parting ways with the lawmaker. The mayors went home to Bukidnon on March 11.

Inocando said he isolated himself from his family by staying in a separate house within their residential compound, and even cooked his own meals.

Since their meeting with Zubiri last week, Inocando said all the 18 mayors have been feeling well so far.