Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said he tested positive for COVID-19, Monday, March 15.
According to Roque, he was tested twice for the virus recently. He said he tested negative on March 10, the night he had a trip with President Rodrigo Duterte.
He said he took another test on Sunday because he was supposed to meet Duterte on Monday.
“Dito po lumabas na tayo ay positibo,” he said in a press briefing. “Iyong nagkaroon po sa akin ng close contact, I ask you po for your indulgence, pero kinakailangan po kayong mag-quarantine.
(That’s where we tested positive. Those who had close contact with me, I ask you for your indulgence, but you need to go on quarantine.)
“Bukas po iyong magiging case bulletin ng DOH, kasama na rin po ang inyong abang lingkod because as of 11:29 this morning, nakuha ko po ang resulta na positibo po ako para sa COVID,”
(The case bulletin tomorrow of the Department of Health will include your humble servant because as 11:29 this morning, I got the result that I am positive for COVID.)
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Harry Roque tests positive for COVID-19
Last month, Harry Roque was involved in a controversy when he said he was in isolation after getting exposed to an infected staff but netizens spotted him scuba diving in Boracay.
Dive shop DiveGurus Boracay on Saturday posted on its Facebook page photos and videos of Roque’s weekend vacation in the island resort, including a supposed diving activity at Friday’s Reff.
Boracay Island News Network shared on Facebook that Roque was seen on the island on Saturday.
However, it was yet determined if Roque’s visit was for leisure or work.
Harry Roque has not issued a statement regarding his alleged vacation in Boracay.
Meanwhile, Filipino citizens criticized Roque and accused him of lying about being under isolation as part of the COVID-19 health protocol.
In July 2020, Roque said he did not violate any quarantine and health protocols when he visited a marine park in Subic, Zambales, amid pandemic after he received criticisms on social media.