AFP chief Faustino positive for COVID-19 in antigen test —spokesperson

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lieutenant General Jose Faustino Jr. has tested positive in an antigen test for COVID-19, AFP spokesperson Colonel Ramon Zagala said Monday.

In a press conference, Zagala said they are still waiting for the result of Faustino’s RT-PCR test, which is expected to be released later in the day.

“Prior to this meeting, the chief of staff tested positive in the antigen test so he's in self isolation, and that we also conducted RT-PCR on him and we are awaiting for the results,” Zagala said.

“He is okay. For safety reasons, he is isolating,” he added.

The AFP spokesperson said Faustino’s RT-PCR test result will be available at 3 a.m.      

According to Zagala, all those who had contacts with Faustino have already undergone an antigen test. He said that he will check their results.

The AFP has recorded a total of 15,625 COVID-19 cases. At least 13,636 have already recovered, while 1,526 are still active cases, as of Saturday.

A total of 31 AFP personnel already died due to the disease, Zagala said.

Formerly the head of Joint Task Force Mindanao, Faustino assumed the AFP chief of staff post on July 31, replacing General Cirilito Sobejana, who retired from the military on the same day.

Faustino is not the first AFP chief to test positive for COVID-19. In March 2020, then-AFP leader General Felimon Santos Jr. also tested positive for the disease. —KBK, GMA News