MANILA, Philippines — Former president and now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tested positive for COVID-19, her office announced on Sunday, making the lawmaker unable to attend the first State of the Nation Address (Sona) of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
In a statement, Arroyo’s chief of staff Erwin Krishna Santos was quoted as saying that the former president was found positive for COVID-19 via an antigen test last July 15, and she immediately underwent self-quarantine.
The Pampanga legislator has been “religiously taking” the prescribed medicines and supplements required for COVID-19 patients, according to her office.
“However, an RT-PCR test conducted last Saturday … showed the Pampanga legislator to be still COVID-19 positive,” her office said in a statement.
“Therefore … the former head of state will not attend the Sona,” it added.
Arroyo is among the 1,365 people invited to Marcos’ Sona to be held at Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on Monday.
READ: ‘Simple, traditional’ SONA with 1,300 guests, director