Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) — Another lawmaker has tested positive for the coronavirus disease according to a congressman, bringing the tally of infected House members to two.
On Wednesday evening, Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano said in a Facebook post that the House now has two congressmen who have contracted the virus, just days since the lower chamber held a special session.
Albano refused to name the lawmaker apart from House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Eric Yap, who had just disclosed Wednesday that he tested positive for COVID-19.
Albano told CNN Philippines that the congressman wished to be anonymous and has since been recovering after he initially tested positive for the virus.
Another source bared that the unnamed lawmaker is also awaiting confirmatory results.
“Cong. Eric Yap, who was with us last Monday for 20 hours straight, tested positively for [COVID-19]!” Albano’s post read.
“We bravely went to work and two of our congressmen are now positive with COVID-19, two congressional staff have died, many more are PUIs (persons under investigation) and PUMs (persons under monitoring),” he added.
Last Monday, it took the lower chamber 17 hours to deliberate on the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act granting President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to address the outbreak. Yap was present in the session hall to deliver the sponsorship speech himself.
Prior to that, he also attended a meeting in Malacañang last Saturday with other officials even after he already had his swabs taken on March 15.
Yap issued an apology to the public following his admission.
“Humihingi ako ng patawad at pag-unawa mula sa mga taong nakasalamuha ko. I was paranoid dahil may kaunting ubo akong naramdaman but I felt it was nomal for me,” Yap said.
“Mas nag-ingat tayo dahil wala pang resulta ang test ko. Those who know me personally know that I practice good personal hygiene. But it didn’t spare me from this virus,” he added.
Meanwhile, other lawmakers who worked closely with Yap announced that they have already placed themselves under self-quarantine.
A congressional staff and an employee of the lower chamber’s Printing Services have previously succumbed to the virus.
To date, the Philippines now has 636 cases of COVID-19, with 38 deaths and 26 recoveries.
