MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday encouraged ordinary Filipinos to disclose if they are COVID-19 positive in order to inform their close contacts, who in turn could seek tests and proper treatment.

In a statement, Lacson said public figures infected with the highly contagious illness have already come forward and made public their conditions, which aided health authorities to address the consequent situation.

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“Maybe it is time for the ‘man on the street’ – the ordinary Filipinos – to do the same in order to alert those who they had interacted with to take the necessary measures so that the infection does not spread further,” the senator said.

“As an elected Senator of the Republic, I appeal to our citizens to practice that selfless act of responsibility to society and do our part in hastening to flatten the curve by thwarting the spread of the virus even in our own little way,” he added.

Lacson issued the statement as the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, which grants President Rodrigo Duterte special powers amid the COVID-19 crisis, did not include a provision that will allow Duterte to order the disclosure of infected patients.

Lacson also suggested that identities of COVID-19 positive people may be revealed through barangay bulletins, homeowner’s associations, and social media platforms.

So far, among government officials who have publicly admitted their COVID-19 positive status were Senators Miguel Zubiri, Koko Pimentel, and Sonny Angara, Armed Forces of the Philippine chief Gen. Filemon Santos Jr., and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Jojo Garcia.