Gabriela Rep. Brosas tested positive for COVID-19 — House SecGen

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas has tested positive for COVID-19, House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales announced Wednesday.

"We are sorry to inform you that Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Party-List) has tested positive for COVID-19," Montales said in a statement shared with reporters.

Brosas herself acknowledged her health condition in her interpellation through Zoom during the House panel deliberations on the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development this afternoon.

"I feel fine right now kasi mild case siya. Tapos nagpa-announce na rin ako sa House of Representatives kung kailan ako nandiyan para alam ng lahat for contact tracing," she said.

She also thanked her colleagues who expressed sympathies over her situation.

In a separate statement, Brosas said she might have contracted the novel coronavirus from exposure at the House last September 2, saying that it was the only place she had been to with active COVID-19 cases.

"I have experienced mild symptoms in the past few days and got myself tested immediately. I also immediately went under quarantine," she said.

"As soon as the result came out today, I immediately informed the House of Representatives and all close contacts," she added.

Despite testing positive for COVID-19, Brosas said she would still participate in the ongoing budget deliberations at the House and push for a higher budget for health and other social services.

Brosas is the 10th member of the House of Representatives to have contracted COVID-19, the others being 1-PACMAN party-list Representative Eric Pineda, Cavite Representative Luis "Jon-Jon" Ferrer IV, Deputy Speakers Mujiv Hataman and Johnny Pimentel, Bulacan Representative Henry Villarica, Sulu Representative Samier Tan, Northern Samar Representative Paul Daza, Senior Citizens party-list Representatives Francisco Datol Jr., and Sorsogon Representative Ditas Ramos.

Datol and Ramos died after testing positive for the disease.

Meanwhile, there are currently 15 active cases of COVID-19 at the House, according to Montales.

Montales has reminded members of the House community to take extra precautions in order to prevent the further transmission of the disease.

He said employees should only report to work physically only if there is an absolute necessity.

Those who are experiencing or have experienced any COVID-19 symptom within the last 14 days should no longer report from work, he added. — RSJ, GMA News