Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos. FILE PHOTO / Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has tested positive for COVID-19 again.
Abalos confirmed it himself to reporters on Monday. He said he is asymptomatic and feeling well but still under quarantine. He further said he is working remotely and will skip other expected physical meetings for the day.
According to him, he took the coronavirus test as a requirement for a morning meeting at Malacañang today, October 10. The result of the RT-PCR test came out positive on Sunday night, thus, he no longe attended the meeting.
“I would like to inform the public that I have tested positive for COVID-19. I am currently at home in isolation and working remotely while strictly following recommended protocols, including health and safety procedures. I am grateful to have been fully vaccinated with booster. I am asymptomatic and feeling well as of the moment,” Abalos said.
“I had myself tested because it is a requirement for a meeting I was supposed to attend today at Malacañang. The result of my RT-PCR test came out at 9:12 p.m. last night,’ he added.
This is the second time that the former Mandaluyong City mayor contracted the serious respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2. He first tested positive for the disease in July 2020.
READ: Ex-Mandaluyong mayor tests positive for COVID-19
Abalaos said he already instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to do contact tracing to identify his possible close contacts.
“In lieu of this development, I have instructed the Philippine National Police to conduct contact tracing measures to notify my direct contacts for possible exposure, including those who were with me during a press conference in Camp Crame last Sunday, October 09,” he said.
“I am also humbly appealing to everyone who I came across over the past two days to monitor yourselves for COVID-19 symptoms and promptly get tested and isolate away from others once symptoms develop,” he added.
Prior to Monday, the DILG chief’s Facebook posts showed him visiting former senator Leila de Lima, who was the victim of a hostage-taking incident inside the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
De Lima was held by a fellow detainee who, along with two others, tried to escape the facility, based on police reports. All three were neutralized.
READ: De Lima survives hostage-taking attempt; hostage-taker gunned down
READ: Hostaged De Lima unhurt; Marcos to check on her
Abalos also held a press conference about the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) operation, where 990 kilograms of shabu worth P6.7 billion were seized.
READ: PNP seizes P6.7 billion worth of shabu; Abalos says it’s ‘biggest drug haul to date’
On Sunday, he likewise posted on Facebook a photo of him with past PNP chiefs that include reitred generals Camilo Cascolan and Dionardo Carlos, and Senator Ronald dela Rosa.