MANILA (UPDATED) - Partido Reporma standard bearer Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday confirmed he tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing an RT-PCR test.

"Immediately informed all my Jan 3 physical contacts of my Jan 4 Covid-positive test result which was released only last night, Jan 6 so they can take extra precautions to protect their loved ones and others," he said in a Twitter post.

He added: "Thank God no one is exhibiting symptoms. Wearing our masks helped much."

Immediately informed all my Jan 3 physical contacts of my Jan 4 Covid-positive test result which was released only last night, Jan 6 so they can take extra precautions to protect their loved ones and others. Thank God no one is exhibiting symptoms. Wearing our masks helped much.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) January 7, 2022

Lacson took a swab test after one of his sons, his driver, and a house helper also tested positive for the disease.

He took another COVID-19 swab test on Thursday as the results of an earlier test he took have yet to be released.

• Ping Lacson gets another COVID-19 swab test

ADHERENCE TO SAFETY PROTOCOLS

In a statement, Lacson's party Partido Reporma said adherence to safety protocols led to non-infection among his close contacts.

Dr. Minguita Padilla, a senatorial aspirant, said she, along with 2 other Senate bets and some members of the party had dinner with Lacson a day before he found out that a family member tested positive for COVID-19.

"We had dinner and a meeting. The next day, he found out that a family member of his tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. He immediately informed us and he had himself swabbed for a PCR test," Padilla's statement read.

"We attribute our being spared to the strict adherence of Sen. Ping Lacson to safety protocols. We are also all fully vaccinated."

She said she appreciated that the presidential aspirant informed them immediately about the development.

"By informing us about his exposure as soon as he found out, he also enabled us to take the necessary precautions soonest," the senatorial hopeful said.

Lacson is the second senator and first presidential contender to contract COVID-19 this year, after cases surged by the thousands amid the spread of the omicron variant in the Philippines.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has also tested positive for COVID-19.

• Win Gatchalian tests positive for COVID-19

“National and local governments must embark on an aggressive mass testing, mass contact tracing and mass booster shots,” Lacson told reporters in a text message.

“The process to vaccinate 5 to 11-year-olds must be accelerated,” he added.