PH Asean delegation told to get COVID-19 tests after Cambodian PM tests positive

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has asked members of his administration’s official delegation to the recently-concluded Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) summits to get tested for COVID-19 after the Cambodian prime minister was confirmed positive.

The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said in a statement on Tuesday that Marcos got himself tested as a part of the protocol for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

“The President had himself tested as part of the health protocol for the APEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand,” OPS said.

“He also instructed members of the official delegation to Cambodia to have themselves tested,” he added.

The measures came after it was announced that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen tested positive for COVID-19.  Hun Sen was present during the 40th and 41st Asean summits in Cambodia, which Marcos attended.

READ: Cambodia PM cancels G20 meetings after testing positive for COVID – statement

OPS said that Marcos has extended his well wishes to Hun Sen.

“The President extends his wishes to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for a speedy recovery,” OPS noted.

It is not clear whether or not Marcos’ COVID-19 test results have been released already, but he was spotted earlier attending a departmental meeting with the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), which is headed by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

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