MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte tested negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), based on the test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said that the test result was encouraging for the Chief Executive as he remains “fit and healthy” to fulfill his mandate as the country’s highest elected official.
”The results of the tests for Covid-19 conducted on President Rodrigo Duterte and I turned out negative. We are fit and healthy to perform our duties,” Go said.
Duterte and Go underwent tests for COVID-19 at Bahay Pagbabago in Malacañang Palace on Thursday after their recent meeting with some Cabinet members who have direct exposure to a COVID-19 patient.
Several Cabinet members in Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vince Dizon, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno have announced that they have self-quarantined due to exposure to a person who tested positive for the virus.
Go also said that he and President Duterte will continue to “seriously” take precautionary measures and comply with the advice of health officials for them to “remain healthy” and avoid the spread of the COVID-19.
“Now more than ever, we as elected officials should do everything we can to be of service to the Filipino people,” Go said.
“The government as a whole should still do its job in a manner that will not put the health of others at risk. Hindi pwedeng ipagpaliban ang tulong sa kapwa Pilipino, tuloy tuloy dapat ang serbisyo,” he added./PN
