Quezon City District 5 Representative Alfred Vargas has tested positive for COVID-19.
"I had just tested positive for COVID-19, a difficult and worrying reality that tens of thousands of our fellow Filipinos had to face this week," Vargas said in a statement.
According to Vargas, he is asymptomatic to the infection, which he attributed to the effective vaccination program of the government.
"We are following all prescribed safety protocols and I continue my work from isolation station to ensure that our services to our constituents will not be disrupted. Tuloy ang serbisyo (The service continues)," he said.
Vargas then called on his fellow people under quarantine to pray for each other and for each other's families.
"Para sa ating lahat, sama-sama, tulong-tulong, at puno ng pananampalataya nating malalampasang ang pandemyang ito."
(For all of us, together hand-in-hand, we will get through this pandemic in full faith.)
"Our frontliner-heroes in our hospitals, the retail sector, food establishments, public and private officers among many - all over the nation and even overseas - face the same threat every day. Like them, we keep our faith and soldier on, knowing the value of our work," he also said.
A number of high-ranking officials across the country have contracted COVID-19 in January.
Over the week, Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco, and Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian announced that they also tested positive for the disease.
Senators Ping Lacson and Win Gatchalian also disclosed that they contracted COVID-19.
Even Philippine National Police chief Police General Dionardo Carlos and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Andres Centino revealed they also caught COVID-19.
