UniTeam HQ in Mandaluyong City shut for now as over 20 staff contract COVID

Atty. Victor Rodriguez, chief of staff and spokesperson of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Screengrab from PTV

MANILA, Philippines — The campaign headquarters of presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and vice-presidential aspirant Sara Duterte-Carpio in Mandaluyong City was temporarily closed starting Monday “until further notice” as more than 20 of its staff tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Atty. Vic Rodriquez, spokesperson of Marcos Jr., the BBM-Sara UniTeam headquarters along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue in Mandaluyong City will be shut for now to ensure the safety of possible visitors as well as the team members preparing for the campaign.

Rodriguez confirmed in the statement that 20 of their staff tested positive for the new coronavirus on Monday.

“Putting premium on the safety of the public, his staff and supporters, former Sen. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has ordered the closure of the BBM-Sara UniTeam headquarters starting today, January 3, until further notice,” Rodriguez said.

“For disclosure and transparency, more than 20 staff were tested positive today which prompted the order for the temporary closure of the campaign headquarters,” he added.  “In this regard, the public and all supporters are hereby advised to please coordinate with all relevant offices of the campaign for proper guidance and further advisory.”

Similarly, the political activities of Marcos Jr. and Duterte-Carpio have been deferred starting Monday up to January 15.

“The former senator also ordered the deferment of all activities of the UniTeam starting today until January 15 this year,” he added.

Despite the temporary closure of the UniTeam headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Rodriguez said other campaign preparations and functions would continue while team members are on a work-from-home arrangement.  Disinfection procedures would also be done in the facility while it is closed.

They are also urging supporters to refrain from staging campaigns in the meantime.

“However, campaign preparations and other administrative functions of the UniTeam will proceed non-stop through work-from-home arrangements and virtual meetings of the concerned staffers and campaign personnel,” Rodriguez explained.

“In this regard, all public appearances, sorties, and assemblies of the BBM-Sara UniTeam will be postponed during the said period. The UniTeam also advises all its supporters nationwide to exercise self-restraint and avoid holding unilateral campaign/ political activities that might result in the further surge of Covid19 cases in their areas,” he also said.

Marcos Jr.’s camp, however, assured that they have been taking necessary steps to avoid the possible spread of the new coronavirus, like requiring COVID-19 antigen tests before entry to their headquarters.

“As a matter of policy, the BBM campaign headquarters requires all visitors and staff to undergo antigen tests at least twice a week to ensure the safety of everyone doing business and visiting the facility,” Rodriguez noted.

The country is currently seeing a spike in COVID-19 infections, which experts fear may be due to the more transmissible Omicron variant.  As of Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that the country’s active case count has gone back to the 20,000-range — exactly 24,992 — after 4,084 new infections were recorded.

Of the 18,587 tests done since January 1, some 20.7 percent have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the new strain of coronavirus that causes serious respiratory ailment COVID-19, according to the DOH.

KGA