Acquiring coronavirus disease is "not a badge of honor," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque insisted Monday in refusing to make public his test result for the illness.

Roque, who tested positive for the coronavirus disease last week, has invoked his right to privacy in opposing the disclosure of his medical test. 

"That's covered by privacy,” the Palace official said Monday, March 22 over ANC's Headstart when asked why he was reluctant to show his positive test result.

"Why can’t public officials such as the Presidential spokesperson be entitled (to) presumption of regularity of pronouncement?...Being positive is not a badge of honor," he added.

Roque also made clear that he stayed at a two-star hotel in San Juan, not a posh hotel in Pasay City, for isolation after learning he tested positive for COVID-19. He noted that the hotel in San Juan, which has been temporarily converted into an isolation facility, has actually become 75 percent full.

"I stayed in an isolation facility. Would I do that if i was not positive?" he added.

Roque, who has shown no symptoms for the coronavirus but went on isolation as a precaution, admitted that he was raring to end his quarantine.

"This is my 8th day and I am dying to reach the 10th day because being asymptomatic I'm required to undergo 10 days of quarantine. I am going bonkers," he said.

In a later virtual press briefing, Roque said he has moved out from the San Juan hotel after reports of water shortage. He said he was now completing his 10-day isolation at a rented house.  

Roque also remained hopeful he would test negative for the coronavirus so he could attend the meeting on the government’s pandemic response next week.

with President Duterte and other officials.