MANILA, Philippines — Former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez contracted COVID-19, his daughter confirmed Thursday.
Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Alvarez said her father, 63, tested positive for the virus, but is not in serious condition.
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“He is still in Davao del Norte and is recovering at home,” the younger Alvarez said.
Prior to catching COVID-19, the Davao del Norte lawmaker has been busy touring parts of the country as part of his voter’s education campaign dubbed “We Need A Leader.”
He is the latest lawmaker to get COVID-19, following Majority Leader Martin Romualdez (Leyte), Edgar Erice (Caloocan), Mike Defensor (Anakalusugan party-list) and Jocelyn Syn Limkaichong (Negros Oriental).
COVID-19 has claimed the life of one lawmaker in the 18th Congress, with Rep. Francisco Datol (Senior Citizens party-list) succumbing to the disease in August 2020. — Xave Gregorio with a report from The STAR/Edu Punay