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3 YEARS IN ‘INVOLUNTARY QUARANTINE’

De Lima says she won't get tested for COVID-19


Senator Leila De Lima on Thursday said she does not need to undergo laboratory test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as she had been under "involuntary quarantine" in the past three years.

"Just to be clear. I will not join my colleagues to be tested for COVID-19... The testing kit to be used on me is better given to a symptomatic PUI (person under investigation)," De Lima, detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, said in a statement.

She added that she is in good health condition.

De Lima was arrested in 2017 for drug-related charges she allegedly got involved in during her tenure as justice secretary. The senator has repeatedly asserted her innocence.

While pushing for mass COVID-19 testing, De Lima acknowledged that there is still limited supply of test kits in the country and pointed out that only those who are really in need must be prioritized.

"Hindi po puwedeng lahat na lang ng matataas na opisyales ay magpa-test kaliwa’t kanan kahit walang exposure at symptoms. Mas kailangan po 'yang limitadong testing kits sa ating mga PUI at PUM cases," De Lima said,

On Wednesday, Senators Francis Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros—De Lima's colleagues in the minority bloc—also said they opted not to get tested for COVID-19 as they emphasized the protocols set by the Department of Health.

Several senators deemed it best to isolate themselves since last week after learning that a resource person who attended a Senate hearing on March 5 turned out to be infected with COVID-19.

Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Nancy Binay who were present at the said hearing tested negative for the virus.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, however, was diagnosed with COVID-19. He announced it on Monday night and said that he was not manifesting any symptoms.

On Tuesday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senators Pia Cayetano, Panfilo Lacson, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Francis Tolentino also submitted samples to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Senator Richard Gordon supposedly got tested too, according to his staff.

Prior to that, Senator Bong Go has also undergone testing with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was the latest Cabinet member to get tested for COVID-19 after being exposed to an infected patient.

It has not been made clear if there had been changes to the algorithm for triage of patients with possible COVID-19 that was released by the DOH last week.

The said guide indicates that asymptomatic patients with exposure history should undergo a 14-day home quarantine.

Despite being considered persons under monitoring, they are not recommended to undergo testing unless they start manifesting symptoms and have been assessed to be high-risk due to other underlying diseases and old age. —LDF, GMA News

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