House Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel has tested positive for COVID-19, it was confirmed Monday.
"I'm OK, asymptomatic for the moment and I'm in isolation now," Pimentel said in a text message.
The lawmaker, who also acts as Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) spokesperson, was one of the very few House of Representatives members who were listed to physically attend President Duterte's State of the Nation Address (SoNA) at the Batasang Pambansa.
This required him to undergo a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or swab test Sunday morning.
"I learned at 11:30 p.m. last night (Sunday) that I was positive," Pimentel said. He shared that he even isolated himself for a few days in preparation for Sunday's swab test.
Had he turned out negative, he would have been subjected to a rapid test Monday morning as part of the double COVID screening imposed by Malacañang on the handful of SONA attendees at the House plenary.
There have been 22 other COVID-19 cases in the House of Representatives since the pandemic began and three deaths so far.
No official announcement was made on the condition of the three other House members who did not appear for the resumption of the regular session at 10 a.m. on Monday.
House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales disclosed on Saturday that two more employees have been infected with COVID-19, bringing to 22 the total number of COVID -19 cases among Lower House employees and officials.
Earlier, a 19th case was reported on Friday while a 52-year-old male employee assigned to the Bills and Index Division succumbed to the disease, making him the third House employee to die from COVID 19.
Bulacan Rep. Henry Villarica was the first congressman to be infected with COVID-19. He was hospitalized on March 12 and recovered a few days later.
A few days later, ACT CIS Partylist Rep. Eric Go Yap announced he tested positive for COVID-19 but this was later corrected as a clerical error by the Department of Health.
Also in March another partylist solon was reported to have caught the disease in Baguio City but he denied this, saying that he tested negative after a swab test.
Montales on Saturday revealed that a consultant of a congressman has also been infected with the virus.