The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) has apologized to ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Yap for the “clerical oversight” on his COVID-19 result, and has clarified the congressman remains negative for COVID-19.
The RITM explained the result is by no means a false positive and was brought about by an encoding error. It added the testing process has followed the protocol of the World Health Organization (WHO) and remains accurate despite the incident.
Yap has accepted RITM’s apology in a statement, and believes the matter is a clerical error and must not be taken against the RITM.
“This is not a cause for celebration for me, dahil ilang milyong kababayan pa din natin ang kasalukuyang apektado ng krisis na ito (since millions of our countrymen are currently affected by this crisis). I will not harbor hard feelings towards anybody, and I urge everybody to stay home and keep safe from this virus,” Yap said.
Yap added he will still complete his 14-day quarantine.
Meanwhile, the PDP-Laban expressed support and believes there is no need yet to investigate the embattled Senator Koko Pimentel who was reported to have violated protocols on self-quarantine.
“I don’t know why we should punish. I think Senator Koko doesn’t deserve itong nakukuha niyang mga negative because hindi naman talaga niya alam and hindi naman gagawin ni Senator Koko ‘yun (all the negativities he has been receiving because he did not know and he will not do it),” PDP-Laban Spokesperson Johnny Pimentel said.
“Because Senator Koko Pimentel, you know him, he’s a very straightforward person. Isang (One) honest to goodness personality, so I don’t think he will do that na magsisinungaling siya (that he would lie),” he added.
The PDP-Laban has also advised those who attended the March 4 meeting to undergo self-quarantine where Sen. Pimentel was present too.
No one in the party is currently experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.
Sen. Pimentel has earlier apologized to the Makati Medical Center and said he had no intention to hurt anyone, be it a doctor, nurse, or hospital staff. – Report from Daniel Manalastas
