A report by ABS-CBN said that Malacanang on Thursday rejected a claim from the Marcos campaign that President Rodrigo Duterte had been exposed to an infected staff member and tested positive for COVID-19.
His COVID RT-PCR tests were all negative, therefore he was tested, according to Acting Palace spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles during the Laging Handa briefing that the test showed “not detected”.
Duterte was not invited to the UniTeam’s proclamation rally on Tuesday because Vic Rodriguez, the spokesman for Marcos, alleged that Duterte tested positive for COVID-19.
Presidential candidate Marcos is running with Duterte’s daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, mayor of Davao City. Both were in attendance at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan for the campaign kickoff.
Duterte was quarantined for a few days after close contact with a COVID-positive domestic employee on January 28, according to Malacanang.
Upon the recommendation of his personal physician, he was released from quarantine on February 3 after he had tested negative for the virus.
