Duterte tested negative for COVID-19: ”Bong” Go

March 14, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte was tested negative for coronavirus disease, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said on Friday night.

In a text message to reporters, Go, who also tested negative for COVID-19, said he and Duterte are "fit and healthy to perform our duties."

"The results of the tests for COVID-19 conducted on President Rodrigo Duterte and I turned out negative," he said.

Staff from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine got samples from Duterte and Go on Thursday afternoon at the Bahay Pagbabago, Duterte's official residence in Malacanang Complex.

Go earlier said the results would be supposedly after 48 hours or on Saturday.

While they were tested negative for the virus, Go said he and Duterte would take precautionary measures seriously and comply with the advice of their health officials in order to remain healthy and avoid the spread of the virus.

"Now more than ever, we, as elected officials should do everything we can to be of service to the Filipino people. The government as a whole should still do its job in a manner that will not put the health of others at risk," Go said. 

Some of Duterte's Cabinet officials have opted to undergo self-quarantine and have themselves tested for COVID-19 after their exposure to a COVID-19 patient. The results of their test were yet to come out. Celerina Monte/DMS