Rizal province Governor Rebecca Ynares has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), her son, former Antipolo City mayor Jun Ynares said on Wednesday.
Former Mayor Jun Ynares made the announcement on his official Facebook page.
“Tulad ng aming sinumpaang tungkulin na maging tapat sa lahat ng oras at panahon, at para ma abisuhan na din ang lahat ng naka salamuha ng aking mga magulang, nais po naming ipabatid sa lahat, na nakumpirma po na ang ating Governor Nini Ynares ay dinapuan ng COVID 19 virus,” he said.
According to Jun, his mother may have contracted the disease while performing her duty as governor.
“Sa amin pong palagay, nakuha ni Governor Nini ang virus dahil sa patuloy niyang pag-ikot at araw-araw na pagharap sa madaming mga kababayan natin. Hindi po siya tumigil sa pagdalaw sa kanyang mga kalalawigan dahil bahagi ito ng kanyang tungkulin,” he said.
Jun said his mother Governor Ynares, who is currently in quarantine, is in stable condition.
Jun added that they have also put his father, former governor Ito Ynares, in isolation.
Jun also urged those who were in contact with his parents, including his wife, Mayor Andrea Ynares, to immediately seek medical help should they experience symptoms of COVID-19, or undergo a 14-day self-quarantine.
“Sa kanyang mga naka salamuha sa huling 2 linggo, isa na po doon si mayora Andeng, ayon sa direktiba ng DOH, kung kayo po ay may nararamdaman, tayo ay magpa check-up agad sa doctor. Kung wala naman, kasama sa direktiba ng DOH na tayo ay kailangan mag self-quarantine ng 14 na araw simula nang huling makasalamuha niyo po ang aming ama o ina,” Jun wrote.
As of Wednesday, Antipolo City has 9 confirmed COVID-19 cases. There are also 42 patients under investigation (PUI) and 152 patients under monitoring (PUM).
Meanwhile, Senator Bong Go went on a self-quarantine for making contact with a person who was tested positive for COVID-19.
“It is unfortunate that Cong. Eric Yap has tested positive for COVID-19. We are currently initiating contact tracing, particularly those present during a meeting I attended last Saturday,” said Go in his statement.
“Puro ako travail noong nakaraang mga araw. Wala naman po among nararamdamang sintomas Ng sakit. But since protocol requires that those who were directly exposed to persons positive for COVID-19 need to undergo self-quarantine, I am left with no choice but to comply,” Go said.
“Gayunpaman, lagi naman po akong handa na gampanan ang aking tungkulin. Pinili ko itong trabahong ito na magserbisyo. Kaya patuloy po akong maglilingkod sa kapwa kong Pilipino,” the senator said.
“I am always ready to fulfill my duties as a senator and public servant- anytime, any minute, regardless of the situation- in a manner that will not put others at risk. I will continue to serve and I am ready to die serving my fellow Filipinos,” said Go.
Meanwhile, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado and Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista said on Wednesday they would go into self-quarantine since they attended a meeting with a lawmaker who tested positive for COVID-19.
Avisado and Bautista took part in the meeting on March 21 in Malacañang where officials from the Executive department and Congress discussed the special powers to be granted to President Rodrigo Duterte to address the threat of COVID-19.
Also present was ACT-CIS party-list Representative Eric Go Yap, who announced on Wednesday that he had contracted the deadly virus.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo urged those who came in contact with Yap to go on quarantine.
“We urge those who were in physical contact with him during the last two weeks to undergo the 14 day self-quarantine protocol for their protection,” Panelo said.
Panelo said the Palace is hoping Yap will be well soon.
“Nakakasama namin siya although wala naman kaming direct contact but just the same mag-another round na naman po ako ng self-quarantine po as a precautionary measure po,” said Avisado in a message to the media.
Bautista said he would have wanted to report for work on Thursday but he decided to take precautions instead.
“I will go for self-quarantine ng ilang araw. Wala naman po ako nararamdaman and I feel very good. Gusto ko pumasok at magtrabaho bukas, however, avoiding the spread of COVID-19 is my primary goal,” he said.
Avisado had earlier discontinued his self-quarantine after learning that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III tested negative for COVID-19.
Dominguez, who came in contact with Avisado in a meeting early this month, and other top government officials had self-quarantined since they were in a toll road event that was attended by a person who tested positive for the virus./Stacy Ang
