MANILA, Philippines — Boxing champ and Senator Manny Pacquiao on Saturday announced that he tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In a statement, Pacquiao said he used Rapid Test Kits from South Korea to find out if he has contracted the highly infectious disease.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala. May natanggap po akong Rapid Testing Kits mula sa aking mga kaibigan sa South Korea,” he said.
(Do not worry, I have received Rapid Testing Kits from my friends in South Korea.)
“Gamit ang rapid test kit na approved sa Korea, ako po ay nag-negatibo [sa COVID-19] (Using the rapid test kits that were approved in Korea, I tested negative for COVID-19),” Pacquiao added.
However, he also admitted the test kits he used are not yet approved by the government’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even as he insisted the test kits were being used in South Korea.
Pacquiao further said the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) has long been asking him to take the COVID-19 test.
“Matagal na po akong hinihikayat na magpa-test sa RITM ngunit nais ko pong ipaalam na wala po akong nararamdaman na anumang sintomas,” he noted.
(RITM had long been encouraging me to take the test but I want to let everybody know that I do not feel any symptoms.)
“Ibang usapan na po kung meron akong kakaibang nararamdaman sa aking katawan (But it would be a different story if I start feeling symptoms in my body). Once I experience symptoms, I am willing to undergo the swab testing for the sake of my family and my country, but I will go through the regular procedure.”
“Naniniwala po kasi ako na marami tayong (I believe that we have a lot of) Persons Under Investigation o PUI na dapat unahin pagdating sa testing (that should be tested first),” he added.
On Friday night, local officials of Barangay Dasmariñas in Makati City have asked the senator, as well as other people in his home, to undergo quarantine as he may have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive person.
But Pacquiao clarified that he already subjected himself to self-isolation even before he got the notice from Barangay Captain Rosanna Hwang.
“Pagkatapos po ng Special Session sa Senado noong Lunes, March 23, ay hindi na po ako lumabas ng aming bahay,” he said.
(After the special session at the Senate on Monday, March 23, I already did not leave the house.)
“Excited pa naman sana ako sa turn-over ng 57,600 Test Kits mula sa aking kaibigan na si Jack Ma para sa Manny Pacquiao Foundation ngunit minabuti kong manatili sa bahay,” he stated.
(I was even excited for the turn-over of 57,000 Test Kits from my friend Jack Ma for the Manny Pacquiao Foundation but I opted to just stay home.)