Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), his spokesperson, Vic Rodriguez, said Tuesday (March 31).
In a statement, Rodriguez said Marcos’ test results were released by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on March 28.
“GUMAGANDA na ang kondisyong pangkalusugan ni dating Sen. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. makaraang ihayag sa resulta ng clinical test na isinagawa ng Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) na siya’y positibo sa COVID-19,” Rodriguez said.
Marcos’ spokesperson said the former senator tried to have himself tested after arriving from Europe on March 14 but he left because too many patients were also waiting for the swab test.
From March 13 until today, Rodriguez said Marcos isolated himself at home in keeping with health protocols for persons suspected of contracting the virus.
He said the only time Marcos left his house was on March 22 to go to the emergency room of a hospital and have himself tested for COVID-19 after experiencing shortness of breath.
“Simula noong Marso 13, 2020 hanggang sa ngayon ay sinusunod ng dating senador ang health protocol sa mga PUI at taimtim at tahimik nyang tinupad ang ipinaiiral na proseso ng gamutan, ‘tulad ng safety mask at self-quarantine, at walang ingay na inilayo ang kanyang sarili maging sa kanyang pamilya ‘gaya ng isang simple, responsable at ordinaryong pasyente,” Rodriguez said.
