Pacquiao says he tested negative for COVID-19

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Saturday said he has tested negative for COVID-19.

In a statement, the senator said he took a rapid test kit from South Korea, according to a report by Nimfa Ravelo on Dobol B sa News TV.

Pacquiao said he has been on self-quarantine since Monday and has had no symptoms so far.

"Huwag po kayong mag-alala. May natanggap po akong Rapid Testing Kits mula sa aking mga kaibigan sa South Korea. Gamit ang rapid test kit na approved sa Korea, ako po ay nag-negatibo. Hindi pa approved ng FDA dito pero yon po ang ginagamit sa Korea," Pacquiao said.

"Matagal na po akong hinihikayat na magpa-test sa RITM ngunit nais ko pong ipaalam na wala po akong nararamdaman na anumang sintomas," he added.

But should he experience symptoms, Pacquiao said he is willing to undergo the swab testing "for the sake of my family and my country," but will go through the regular procedure. 

"Naniniwala po kasi ako na marami tayong Persons Under Investigation o PUI na dapat unahin pagdating sa testing," he said.

Pacquiao, an eight-division world boxing champion, said he was supposed to attend the turnover of 57,600 test kits from his friend, Chinese billionaire and Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, to his Manny Pacquiao Foundation, but stayed home instead.

"Kahit naka-home quarantine, patuloy po akong maghahanap ng paraan upang makatulong sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa ating mga magigiting na frontliners. Marami pa pong test kits at medical supplies na darating na magagamit ng ating mga health workers sa buong bansa. Magkakaroon din po ng allocation ang DOH Regional Centers sa Visayas at Mindanao," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao was considered as Person Under Monitoring (PUM) after three of his colleagues went positive to COVID-19. They were Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Senator Sonny Angara.

"Hinihikayat ko ang lahat na makipagtulungan sa ating pamahalaan. Gawin po natin ang nararapat. Patuloy din po tayong magdasal at manalig sa Panginoon. Sa kanya po tayo humugot ng lakas at pag-asa. Malalampasan natin itong pagsubok, mga kababayan. Tiwala lang," Pacquiao said.

The senator has been told by the chairman of Barangay Dasmariñas in Makati City that he and the members of his household have to stay home after Pimentel attended a party in his house recently with other lawmakers.

"No one including any of your household can come out. If you need something, please call the barangay... We can procure things for you and send it to your doostep," barangay chairperson Rossana Hwang said in her letter.

Hwang said the measure was upon the recommendation of doctors from Makati Medical Center and by the Manila Health Department. —Jamil Santos/KG, GMA News