MANILA, Philippines – Persons inside Senator Manny Pacquiao’s household, including the senator himself, have been asked by officials from Barangay Dasmariñas in Makati City to stay indoors as he might be exposed to COVID-19.
Documents that leaked on Friday showed barangay officials asking people inside Pacquiao’s house not to leave as the senator has been identified as a person under monitoring for possible COVID-19 infection, and was seen with Senator Koko Pimentel who already tested positive for the disease.
“You have been identified as a person under monitoring after the picture of you and [Senator Aquilino] Koko Pimentel in your house seen partying together went viral. Many of your colleagues in the Senate have been identified to be COVID positive. Therefore, you have to be quarantined at your own house,” Barangay Dasmariñas said.
“For your own family and household’s safety, please have yourself self-quarantined, stay home. No one including any of your household can come out,” they added.
The letter of Barangay Dasmarinas to Senator Manny Pacquiao that has been leaked.
Authorities said that these were also based on recommendations from doctors of the Makati Medical Center who also lives in the same barangay. According to Barangay Dasmariñas, they would facilitate the delivery of goods in case members of Pacquiao’s household have something to buy.
Confirmed by aide
However, Pacquiao’s special assistant Jayke Joson said that even without the barangay’s notification, the senator would adhere to the self-quarantine rules, stating that Pacquiao has already started it.
“Confirm ‘yan kahit hindi sila magbigay notice eh mas nauna pa si Sen. MP (Manny Pacquiao) mag self-quarantine,” Joson said. (That’s confirmed even without the notice as Manny Pacquiao is already on self-quarantine.)
He also insisted that the viral video that the barangay officials have cited — a video of Pacquiao and Pimentel dining together — happened last March 4. He claimed that Pimentel supposedly contracted the disease inside the Senate at around March 10 to 11.
“March 4 party sa house niya alam niyo ‘yon, lahat ng umattend duon eh wala pang virus, at si Sen. Koko eh duda niya March 10-11 niya nakuha ‘yan sa senate. Pero bakit pa makikipag-talo (si) Sen MP eh kahit wala ‘yan sulat nila eh naka-quarantine na sila,” he added.
Pacquiao and his family are currently staying in a house in Dasmarinas as his house at Forbes Park Subdivision is being renovated.
As of Friday, three senators — Senators Pimentel, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Sonny Angara have tested positive for COVID-19. Three more Senate employees were also confirmed to have the latest coronavirus strain.
Luzon is still under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the rising COVID-19 cases. Health officials said that there are 803 patients infected, 54 of which have already died while at least 31 have recovered.
Around the world, over 524,000 COVID-19 cases have been recorded, while 23,592 patients have died, and another 111,100 patients have recovered.
READ: Luzon now under ‘enhanced community quarantine’ – Palace
READ: DOH: 803 people in PH now COVID-19 positive; death toll at 54