Pampanga, Negros mayors infected

MANILA, Philippines — Two more mayors and another vice mayor have tested positive for COVID-19.

Mayor Raymund Tongson and Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental tested positive for the virus yesterday.

In Pampanga, Mayor Romulo Pecson of Magalang said the result of his reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test was released on Thursday.

Pecson said some of his staff are on quarantine.

“I am presently in good condition. I pray for the speedy recovery of all those affected by this virus,” he said.

On Wednesday, Arayat Mayor Emmanuel Alejandro tested positive for COVID-19.

Mabalacat Mayor Crisostomo Garbo contracted the virus as shown in his RT-PCR test result released on March 28.

Mayors Rene Maglanque of Candaba, Darwin Manalansan of Floridablanca and Leonardo Flores of Macabebe had earlier confirmed that they also tested positive for the virus.

Ilocos gov, Pangasinan mayors vaccinated

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Manotoc received the first dose of Sinovac vaccine at the Gov. Roque Ablan Memorial Hospital in Laoag City yesterday.

Mayor Clark Cecil Tiu of San Quintin was the first local chief executive of Pangasinan who was inoculated against COVID-19. He was vaccinated on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Dagupan Mayor Brian Lim received his COVID-19 jab.

Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano III received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine on Tuesday.

Governors, mayors and barangay captains have been allowed to be vaccinated after they have been reclassified as frontline workers. – Gilbert Bayoran, Eva Visperas, Raymund Catindig