Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, former Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and other Negros Occidental officials will be swabbed for COVID-19 tests Thursday, September 23, five days after they were exposed to two mayors who tested positive for the virus.
They were exposed to Kabankalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco and Talisay City Mayor Neil Lizares who joined them at a Love Negros meeting at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay on Saturday, September 18.
Zayco and Lizares tested positive for COVID-19 after the Saturday meeting although it is believed that they picked up the virus elsewhere.
Thirty-three officials, including Zayco and Lizares, joined the Love Negos political gathering.
Lacson. Benitez and the other officials went on self-isolation starting Sunday while waiting for their tests schedule on Thursday.
Aside from Lacson and Benitez also present at the Love Negros gathering were Rep. Francisco Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District), Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod), 13 mayors, 7 board members and 9 members of the Philippine Councilors League-Negros Occidental board.*