Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 19) – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told CNN Philippines on Friday that he tested negative in his latest COVID-19 swab test.
“My RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test) yesterday came out negative. But according to Sec. Duque, l continue home quarantine until 23 Nov,” said Lorenzana.
The Defense chief also said he believes his earlier swab test result was a false positive.
Lorenzana announced on Wednesday that he tested positive for COVID-19. He took the swab test on Nov. 16 after physically attending a Senate budget hearing.
The 73-year-old Defense Secretary’s diagnosis prompted the Senate to cancel its 2022 national budget debates for the rest of the week.
Senate President Tito Sotto said he and other senators who had close contact with Lorenzana during the budget hearing will undergo swab tests on Sunday.
Lorenzana returned on Nov. 14 from an official trip to Europe, where he met with his counterparts in Spain and Poland, Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said.
He also tested positive for COVID-19 in April.
CNN Philippines correspondents David Santos and Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
