SENATOR Manny Pacquiao re-assured his neighbors at the plush Dasmariñas Village in Makati that he and his family are not COVID-19 virus carriers following their PCR-based tests that cleared them.
Pacquiao made the statement following a recent tiff with officials of the exclusive Dasmariñas Village after they tagged their household as possible COVID carriers on the basis of social media posts.
The village officials led by Rossana Hwang barred the Pacquiao family from leaving their residence on the basis of some social media posts claiming that Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Jr. who was found positive of the COVID virus was seen “partying” at Pacquiao’s mansion along with other political personalities.
Pacquiao insisted that the alleged “party” was actually a political meeting and was held long before Pimentel was exposed to a COVID carrier.
“This event happened on March 4, 2020. I am sure our Dasmariñas Village guards have records of this if only proper verification was made. Let me also emphasize that it was not ‘partying’ as stated in your letter. It was a political meeting.
The word ‘partying’ casts me as someone insensitive to the current crisis of the nation,” Pacquiao said in a letter to Hwang.
Pacquiao said that before undergoing the test, he and the members of his family decided to go on home quarantine.
This was a self-imposed precaution following confirmed cases of coronavirus infection of a few of his colleagues.
He has also decided to have himself tested using a rapid testing kit similar to the one used in South Korea.
The result showed negative but just to make sure, Pacquiao said he availed of a PCR-based COVID testing upon the advice of Dr. Rontgene Solante, head of the Infectirous Disease Department of the San Lazaro Hospital.
Pacquiao said the result of the PCR-based testing was consistent with the result of the rapid testing which yielded negative.
Pacquiao said the he is thankful that the test showed that he and his family are safe from the dreaded virus.
He also thanked the Department of Health (DoH) for administering the test and his supporters for praying for his family for a favorable result.
Pacquaio said the negative media posts have directedly affected people very close to him definitely strengthens his resolve to work even harder to provide more help to the people, especially the poor, whose lives were turned upside down not only because of the COVID-19 virus but also because of the ongoing Enhanced Community Quarantine.
“Nagpapasalamat po tayo kay Lord dahil patuloy tayong prinoproteksyonan. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa DOH at sa mga taong sumama sa pagdarasal upang malampasan natin ang pagsubok na ito. Huwag po kayong mag-alala at hindi ko sasayangin ang inyong pagmamahal. Susuklian ko po ito ng mas masigasig pang paninilbihan sa bayan,” Pacquiao said.
