Zambo lawmaker’s compound locked down as family gets virus

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Village watchmen have been stationed at the residential compound of Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe after the area was placed on lockdown after the Zamboanga City lawmaker and his family tested positive for the new coronavirus disease.

Dalipe, who represents the city’s second congressional district, revealed the family’s condition in a social media post on Wednesday and asked for prayers from the public.

He said it was his decision to prevent people from visiting their house as a precaution against the spread of the disease. Every day, groups of people visit the official’s residential compound in Barangay Tetuan to seek assistance.

As of Jan. 6, the city had recorded 3,701 COVID-19 cases, with 3,413 recoveries and 171 deaths.

Manuel Jose Dalipe

Critical

Dalipe said it was his 74-year-old father, former Mayor Manuel Dalipe, who first tested positive for the coronavirus on Dec. 31. The former mayor stays with the lawmaker’s family.

“When we learned about his status, we, all the family members, underwent RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) tests, and results came out on Jan. 5,” Dalipe said.

Apart from him and his father, those who tested positive for COVID-19 were his wife and three children, ages 11, 8 and 8 months. They are now under hospital quarantine.

“The Dalipe family is asking for prayers for the quick recovery of former Mayor Manny Dalipe, who is categorized as a COVID-19 critical patient,” Dalipe said.

Local health workers have started tracing the people who came in contact with members of the Dalipe family. — JULIE S. ALIPALA