Vice President Leni Robredo tested negative for the coronavirus after being a “very close” contact of a positive case. 

Robredo said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, August 31, that her latest exposure had been her “closest call,” so she was thankful she was not infected. 

The Vice President had to go under quarantine and get herself tested after one of her employees, with whom she worked closely in the past days, later tested positive for COVID-19.

Robredo immediately put herself under quarantine, then waited seven days after her last exposure with her employee before getting her RT-PCR test done. 

“Got my negative RT-PCR test result already. I’ve been exposed so many times but the latest was my closest call to date. So thank God, really!! I was again spared,” the Philippine opposition leader said. 

The Vice President announced the news with a video made by her grandniece and grandnephew, who were happy that their “Lola Leni” did not have COVID-19. 

“Our babies sent this when they learned of my negative test results. We haven’t seen them in quite a while,” said Robredo.

Even with her negative status, the Vice President will still be completing her mandatory 14-day quarantine to follow protocols.

Robredo – whose office has been praised for running quick and effective pandemic responses programs despite its meager annual budget – will continue working from home. 

This is the third time the Vice President had to go on quarantine after she became a close contact of individuals who got infected with COVID-19. Her previous exposures were in October 2020 and April 2021. In both cases, Robredo later tested negative for the virus.

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Robredo is considering running for president in the high-stakes polls that would elect President Rodrigo Duterte’s successor in 2022. Pre-election surveys indicate Robredo remains the most viable standard-bearer for the anti-Duterte forces despite her dismal numbers.

She is weighing her prospects and plans to finalize her electoral bid by October 8 at the latest or the last day of filing of candidacies.

Robredo recently doubled down on her criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte’s mismanagement of COVID-19. She told the government to shape up after the Philippines recorded a new record-high of 22,366 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday, August 30.  – Rappler.com