AFP chief negative for COVID-19, Navy head waiting for result

July 16, 2020

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Felimon Santos Jr. said late Wednesday  he tested negative for coronavirus disease ( COVID-19).

Santos said, like Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, he received his swab test result on Tuesday night.

"Yes. My test result is also negative. I am already a veteran here," Santos said. On March 27, Santos tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered after a two-week quarantine.

Santos said despite a negative result, he and Lorenzana continued with their quarantine.

"For sure safety of others. (the) SND (Secretary of National Defense) and I have started the quarantine on the same time, we are still on quarantine," he said.

It can be recalled that last March, Santos was tested positive for COVID-19 after he was exposed to a military official who had the virus.

Santos and other military and defense officials, including Lorenzana and Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Bacordo  placed themselves under quarantine after one of Lorenzana's staff who was with them in Subic and Sulu was tested positive for the virus.

"Those who have direct contact ( with the staffer) have undergone  swab test and they are negative. Other who do not have direct contact still undergo quarantine as health protocol," he said.

Bacordo said he expects to  get his test result by Friday. He added that he will work from home.

"We will get the result tomorrow, but right now I'm asymptomatic. We were tested Tuesday so according to them we will get the result after three days, we will get the result by Friday", he said. Robina Asido/DMS