MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla tested negative for the coronavirus after they underwent COVID-19 swab testing ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Sotto and Revilla are among the seven senators who will physically attend Duterte’s SONA since the continuing threat of coronavirus pandemic prompted limitations in the number of guests allowed at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
Both senators arrived at the Batasang Pambansa at around 3 p.m.
Senate President Tito Sotto tests negative for the coronavirus. Sotto, as well as other senators, underwent COVID-19 swab testing ahead of the Senate’s session opening earlier today. (📷 Sen. Sotto) | @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/OQXDQaOvYA
— Christia Ramos (@CMRamosINQ) July 27, 2020
Aside from Sotto and Revilla, other senators to physically hear Duterte deliver his SONA are Senators Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Sherwin Gatchalian, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Francis Tolentino, whose swab test results are yet to be disclosed to the media.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who earlier contracted COVID-19 and eventually recovered from the disease, opted to monitor the President’s speech at home.