By Martin Sadongdong Even the most powerful, skilled, and bravest commanders of the three major service units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were not spared by the onslaught of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as they were forced to work from their quarters to avoid infection. It was confirmed on April 1, Wednesday, that Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay, Army Commanding General (CGPA); Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, Navy Flag Officer in Command (FOIC); and Lieutenant General Allen Paredes, Air Force Commanding General (CGPAF), were subjected to 14-day home quarantine after being exposed to senior military officials who acquired the virus. In the military rank, at least two senior officials have already been infected by COVID-19: a one-star rank official assigned at General Headquarters, Camp Aguinaldo; and AFP Chief, General Felimon Santos, Jr. Army chief Gapay started his home quarantine on March 27 and will finish on April 10 after being exposed to Santos, said Army spokesperson Colonel Ramon Zagala. Gapay was with Santos and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on March 16 during a meeting of the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID). Lorezana, on the other hand, tested negative for COVID-19 and will finish his quarantine on April 6. “ okay, he’s doing well but, yes, he self-quarantine,” Zagala confirmed. According to Zagala, Gapay opted not to be tested for COVID-19 since he’s not feeling any symptoms, citing the algorithm of the Department of Health (DOH) for triage patients who possibly acquired the viral disease. “You don’t deprive the test to people who are ,” Zagala said. Navy chief Meanwhile, Bacordo had himself checked after coming into contact with four individuals who later turned out to be positive for COVID-19. According to Bacordo, he was in a “close huddle” with Santos and other senior officials on March 16 during an IATF meeting. “After the IATF meeting, the AFP contingent had a small circle meeting where we discussed important matters. That was the night when we deployed the military personnel for checkpoint operations,” Bacordo said. Bacordo also came into contact with the unnamed senior military official who tested positive for COVID-19, as well as Senators Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, both of whom also acquired the virus. With this, Bacordo said he had himself tested for COVID-19 where he was found negative for the disease. He finished his quarantine on March 30. “I already finished my self-quarantine. As a matter of fact, I inspected our Navy personnel manning a checkpoint in Marikina ,” Bacordo said. Air Force chief Lastly, Paredes continues to perform his duties and responsibilities from his military quarters after going on quarantine from March 24, which would last until April 7, said Air Force spokesman Major Aristedes Galang. According to Galang, Paredes had an encounter on March 4 with an unnamed senior military official who tested positive for COVID-19. He was also with Santos on March 12 during a mandatory call with newly-promoted generals at Camp Aguinaldo, and on March 21 during the turnover of medical supplies and equipment donated by a group of local Filipino-Chinese businessman at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. Paredes said Galang opted not to be tested and instead subjected himelf to quarantine. “ not feeling any symptoms and he’s in good health,” Galang said. The top military commanders are expected to be back at the frontlines of the battle against the virus—an unseen enemy—once they all finish their quarantine procedures.