AFP chief decides to go on self-quarantine again

Santos said he got his results Tuesday night. (File: PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. on Thursday said he also tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Yes. Negative din ako (I am also negative) Beterano na ako dito (I’m a veteran at this),” Santos said, when asked by reporters about his Covid-19 test results.

Santos said he got his results Tuesday night.

However, he will remain under quarantine “to be on the safe side”.

Last March, Santos was quarantined for the first time after he was found positive for the disease.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Santos and other military officials were forced to put themselves into self-quarantine and undergo a swab test after having contact with the defense chief’s aide, Col. Rolly Nerona, during the commissioning of missile-frigate BRP Jose Rizal on July 10 in Subic Bay, Zambales and the July 13 visit of President Rodrigo Duterte in Jolo, Sulu.

Nerona was found positive for the disease shortly after landing in Jolo Monday and this was based on the July 10 swab test he took.

On Wednesday, Lorenzana confirmed that he tested negative for Covid-19, a day after he started his self-quarantine.

This is the second time the DND chief was found negative for the disease, with the first being in March.

Meanwhile, Philippine Navy chief Vice Adm.

Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, one of the ranking officials exposed during the July 10 commissioning of BRP Jose Rizal, said he expects to get his Covid-19 swab test results on Friday.

He added that as of now, he is showing no symptoms of the disease while on self-quarantine.