By Hannah L. Torregoza Detained Senator Leila de Lima said on Thursday she won’t be joining other senators in getting tested for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Senator Leila de Lima (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

De Lima, who remains detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) over drug charges, said that since she has relatively been in “involuntary quarantine” for the past three years, she believes she is healthy. “Just to be clear. I will not join my colleagues to be tested for COVID-19. I have been relatively in involuntary quarantine for the past 3 years. With God’s grace, I remain healthy,” De Lima said in a statement. “The testing kit to be used on me is better given to a symptomatic PUI (patient under investigation).”

De Lima said that because there is a limited number of testing kits for COVID-19, priority should be given to those who have symptoms of the disease.“The ideal scenario is mass testing. That is, of course, not feasible, given our very limited testing kits,” the opposition senator said. “So let’s prioritize the testing of PUI and PUM cases, or the symptomatic patients and those exposed to them.” The lawmaker said it is imperative that the government use the testing kits wisely, since supplies are limited. “Let us use our limited testing kits sparingly or judiciously and only upon the recommendation of a physician or a health professional complying with testing standards,” she said. The senator also criticized the fact that the highest government officials were the first to avail of the COVID-19 test kits when those who badly need to be tested had to be put on the waiting list. “Hindi po puwedeng lahat na lang ng matataas na opisyales ay magpa-test kaliwa’t kanan kahit walang exposure at symptoms (It shouldn't be that our highest officials would be the first to get testest left and right even though they have no direct exposure and symptoms),” she said. “Mas kailangan po yang limitadong testing kits sa ating mga PUI at PUM  (patient under monitoring) cases (Those limited testing kits are needed by our PUIs and PUM cases),” De Lima stressed. Meanwhile, sources said Sen. Risa Hontiveros is strictly following health protocols and has put herself under self-quarantine after her colleague Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri tested positive for COVID. However, she is not displaying any COVID-19 symptoms as described by health officials.