MANILA – Eight-division world boxing champion and incumbent Philippine senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao announced that he has tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) yesterday.
Pacquiao said in a statement that he used rapid test kits from South Korea to find out if he has contracted the highly infectious disease.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala. May natanggap po akong rapid testing kits mula sa aking mga kaibigan sa South Korea,” Pacquiao said. “Gamit ang rapid test kit na approved sa Korea, ako po ay nag-negatibo sa COVID-19.”
The boxing legend, however, admitted that the said test kits were not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Pacquiao is also mulling to have himself tested by the Department of Health.
On Friday, he and his family were requested to undergo self-quarantine after being exposed to Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
In a letter dated March 27, Dasmariñas village captain Rossanna Hwang said Pacquiao is considered a “person under monitoring” and urged the legislator and his family to stay home.
“For your own family and household’s safety, please have yourself self-quarantined, STAY HOME. No one including any of your household can come out,” Hwang said in the letter.
“This was the recommendation of doctors from Makati Medical Center who [are] also [residents] here and by the Makati Health Department. Many of your colleagues in the Senate have been identified to be COVID positive. Therefore, you have to be quarantined at your own house. Please be a model example,” the letter added.
Videos circulating online showed that Pacquiao hosted a party in his residence on March 4. Among the attendees was Pimentel, who drew flak for accompanying his pregnant wife to the Makati Medical Center and exposing doctors and other staff in the delivery room./PN
