AFP chief, 2 senators test positive for COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has tested positive for COVID-19, the military said yesterday.

In a statement, the AFP said Gen. Andres Centino tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday.

He is currently in an approved isolation facility within Camp Aguinaldo, the military added, where he will continue performing his job.

“He remains in full command of the AFP, supervising all units in carrying out their assigned tasks through all allowed and available means,” AFP spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said.

Centino then reminded members of the AFP to continuously practice minimum health protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.

“The AFP continues to advocate the preservation of our force so that we can effectively perform our mandate to protect the people and secure the state,” the statement read.

The Philippines has seen an uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases in recent days, with the number of new cases rising to 17,220.

The country has a total of 2,888,917 COVID-19 cases, along with 2,780,613 recoveries and 51,743 deaths.

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Sherwin Gatchalian also tested positive for COVID-19, but both are exhibiting relatively mild symptoms.

Lacson and his family underwent COVID-19 tests twice – Tuesday and Thursday – after the result of the first one did not arrive after 12 hours as scheduled. Before the positive results came out, the senator had sore throat, fever and colds.

He believes he got the disease from his son and chief of staff, Ronald Jay.

“I was worried about my wife’s result since (she has a) comorbidity. I was also worried for all those I had physical contact with during our meeting last Monday, a day before I learned that I was exposed to my son Ronald Jay who was tested positive for COVID. I thought they should be informed ASAP so they can immediately take extra precautions in case I was positive,” he said, in explaining his complaints about the delayed test results on Twitter.

Gatchalian said he tested positive yesterday and immediately went on self-isolation.

“So far, I am only experiencing mild symptoms from the virus, and this goes to show that the vaccines are effective and working against it. I enjoin everyone to get your booster shots right away,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III announced that the chamber will go on a seven-day lockdown starting Jan. 10 after 46 employees were stricken with the virus.

He said 175 employees, including five from the medical office, are now under quarantine due to exposure or are also exhibiting COVID symptoms and awaiting results of their tests.

He said the Senate medical office sent a memo to him recommending a seven-day total closure. – Edu Punay, Paolo Romero