Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has tested positive for COVID-19, his spokesman said yesterday, contradicting an earlier statement by his wife.
Vic Rodriguez, the former presidential son’s spokesman, said in a statement that Marcos tested positive Saturday, two weeks after first experiencing tightness in his chest upon his return from Spain. Rodriguez said the former lawmaker tried to seek treatment at a hospital but went home because it had too many patients.
“I decided to go home because there were so many patients in the hospital I went to, I didn’t want to impose my own care ahead of patients which could have been in worse condition and needed the attention,” his spokesman quoted him saying in Filipino.
Marcos, 62, remained in isolation until he was rushed to the same hospital on March 22 due to breathing problems. After that, he was made to take a COVID-19 test and advised to self-quarantine. He received his positive results Saturday from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
Rodriguez’s statement contradicts Marcos’ wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, who over the weekend said that her family and staff were all tested. “Fortunately, we all tested NEGATIVE,” she said.
Araneta-Marcos also dispelled rumors that her husband was in critical condition due to the virus.
“Contrary to rumors currently circulating, my husband is well. His lungs did not collapse… He is not dying. Nor is he dead,” she added.
On the same day, Marcos’ nephew Franco Mabanta also tweeted that “the rumors are false” and said his uncle tested negative for the virus.
“But the fake news creators are on 5th gear. Imagine creating a counterfeit medical report just to damage a political rival — the world we live in,” Mabanta wrote.
He then added a photo of Marcos, who was “doing well.”
Hi, everyone! The rumors are false. Tito @bongbongmarcos is safe and doing well. Negative for Corona.
But the fake news creators are on 5th gear. Imagine creating a counterfeit medical report just to damage a political rival — the world we live in. 🤷♂️
*Photo taken this morning pic.twitter.com/5FDg7xSYXw
— Franco Cruz Mabanta (@FrancoMabanta) March 26, 2020
Later that same day, Marcos himself added to the head-scratching statements by posting on Facebook that he was “in good condition” and “still awaiting” the results of his test.
https://www.facebook.com/BongbongMarcos/photos/a.178665755520266/2804354196284729/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAvTWPO2IwYQloPhID5vgML36vublrODdo8HJZCLumJMkpOYSB1HsDlah1_Yg2b1JjPsdewdcLQwd3CnEjYfUH_42Ixyh-81Fp9qh–SpMADYMof4yv_Vn10GpHz28xQZeB-nKAjy6_IfLQQacL1Ttwe-J2EUYnKbL1g4Vm7yQFFppy9qeq4YB5aaDctP-fFLhR-CwcifVPYZ-PlsjKXl7q7AvnmACat_dSdxdRWFtCwEcT8ZweZFDBKzIYFPTuMKtP3h4n0U08yGn0AdnVOxldcTrT55fuQNY0DeL_ZVune6wGbv87ZRs9WufzcYDnQzolrF6N-YJMVURc7lKjsGakjA&__tn__=-R
Read: Bongbong Marcos’ Game of Thrones-inspired birthday greeting to son draws netizens’ ire
The ousted dictator’s namesake and only son was one of a top-trending topic on Philippine Twitter yesterday, with many of his family’s critics apparently taking his test results with unabashed glee, while others called for basic decency.
Marcos is still awaiting the results of an electoral protest he filed against Vice President Leni Robredo, who he lost to in the 2016 election. Despite a recount, he insists that he was cheated of the post.
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