At least four more government personnel have tested positive for the coronavirus disease as Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Thursday, March 18, revealed he helped them to get into the isolation facility where he is staying.

The Palace official said that as of Wednesday, he has already helped facilitate the isolation of his colleagues—a director from the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, two personnel from Malacañang's Media Accreditation and Relations Office, and an undersecretary from a line department.

“This is just one isolation pero ang feeling ko nga doon sa communication department ng gobyerno, lima na kaming naka-billet dito sa quarantine facility na ito (but my feeling is that in the communication department of the government, we are five billeted here in this quarantine facility),” he said in his virtual presser.

Roque also mentioned a “famous” broadcaster from state-run People’s Television Network (PTV-4) has contracted the deadly virus.

“So, the rooms are being fast occupied and in my understanding, we are also in full capacity,” he said.

Aside from the spokesman, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Debold Sinas, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Wilkins Villanueva, and several congressmen tested positive for COVID-19.

Roque is currently staying in a government isolation facility in San Juan City.

He clarified this through the same press briefing where he also belied reports he was staying in the presidential suite of a seven-star hotel in Pasay City.

Roque’s admission that the isolation facility where he is staying is already full capacity is in contrast to his earlier statement that there is no need to declare a nationwide lockdown despite surging cases because the country’s hospital capacity remained below critical levels.