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Lawmaker explains why he attended gov't meetings after being tested for COVID-19

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/life/03/25/20200326-lawmaker-explains-why-he-attended-govt-meetings-1.jpg"/><figcaption>ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap (left) poses with Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte, Sen. Bong Go and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano at a Palace meeting in a photo dated March 21, 2020. Photo from Rep. Yap&#x27;s official Facebook page</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap said Wednesday he went to work despite having tested for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because he was not exhibiting any symptoms of the illness.&quot;Pumunta ako dahil wala akong symptoms na nararamdamn like dizzy o hirap sa paghinga,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News.(I went to work because I had no symptoms like feeling dizzy or having breathing difficulty.)Yap later tested positive for COVID-19.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/25/20/after-attending-palace-congress-meetings-lawmaker-reveals-he-has-covid-19">After attending Palace and Congress meetings, lawmaker reveals he has COVID-19</a></li></ul>Before he was informed to have caught the highly infectious disease, Yap, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, attended a meeting in Malacañang on March 21.He said he maintained a distance from other officials as a precautionary measure.&quot;Hindi ako nagsasalita. Katulad sa picture, nakangiti lang ako doon. Sa picture, madalas malayo ako,&quot; Yap said.(I wasn&#x27;t talking. As seen in the picture, I was only smiling. In the picture, I was mostly far away from the others.)<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/life/03/25/20200326-lawmaker-explains-why-he-attended-govt-meetings-2.jpg"/><figcaption>ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap poses with other officials at the Malacañan Palace. Photo from Rep. Yap&#x27;s official Facebook page</figcaption></figure></div>On March 23, he also attended a special session at the House of Representatives to discuss the special powers bill sought by Malacañang to address the COVID-19 crisis.He said he experienced 2 coughs per day, which he attributed to acid reflux that had been going on since January.Asked why he didn&#x27;t go on self-quarantine, Yap said, &quot;Ang akin kasi, kunyari, paano &#x27;pag nag-negative ako? Tapos andami kong hindi inattendan na trabaho at sasabihin oh kasi politiko ganito?&quot;(To me, what if I tested negative? And then people would say I didn&#x27;t go to work because I&#x27;m like this, a politician?&quot;Yap, in a statement, apologized to those whom he may have exposed to the virus. &quot;Humihingi ako ng patawad at pag-unawa mula sa mga taong nakasalamuha ko. I was paranoid dahil may kaunting ubo akong naramdaman but I felt it was normal for me,&quot; the lawmaker said.(I apologize and seek understanding from people I mingled with. I was paranoid because I had a slight cough but I felt it was normal for me.) - With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap said Wednesday he went to work despite having tested for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because he was not exhibiting any symptoms of the illness.

ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap said Wednesday he went to work despite having tested for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because he was not exhibiting any symptoms of the illness.