Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. (FILE) Photo from the Department of Transportation
MANILA, Philippines — Secretary Arthur Tugade of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is currently under “isolation,” his chief of staff revealed on Thursday during a taped briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Sec. Tugade is currently under isolation po,” said DOTr Usec. Giovanni Lopez.
He, however, did not specify if Tugade is COVID-19 positive or if he was just exposed to a person with COVID-19. But according to Duterte, Tugade is not sick.
“Si Sec. Tugade is not sick, nag-isolate lang. Ang problema kasi ‘yung pamilya. Hawaan na lahat eh, buwang na Omicron,” said Duterte.
(Sec. Tugade is not sick, just in isolation. The problem is the family. It is infecting all, stupid Omicron.)
Tugade is the fourth cabinet member after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and the country’s vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. to announce that they are currently quarantined.
Tourism Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat also announced earlier that she is under quarantine after being exposed to a COVID–19 positive individual.