FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not be able to attend the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. after having been diagnosed positive for COVID-19.

In a statement issued by Mrs. Arroyo’s chief of staff Erwin Krishmas Santos, the former President tested positive after an RT-PCR was conducted last Saturday.

Santos said Mrs. Arroyo, a representative of Pampanga’s 2nd District, will not attend the SONA as head of state and member of the 19th Congress.

Last July 15, Santos said Mrs. Arroyo tested positive in an antigen test and immediately underwent self-quarantine under the care of her personal physician, Dr. Martha Nucum, a pulmonologist presently connected with the Professional Regulation Commission’s Board of Medicine.

Nocum, who served as the head of Mrs. Arroyo’s medical team during the latter’s stay at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, informed that her patient has been religiously taking the prescribed medicines and supplements required of a COVID-19 patient.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco