MANILA - Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Thursday thanked Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto for allowing her to spend her 2 weeks of isolation in his house.

Recto was about to interpellate Briones during the Senate's Committee of the Whole hearing when the Education chief suddenly revealed that the senator prepared an isolation room for her in his house.

"I would like to reiterate my thanks to you for facilitating the spending of my 2-week isolation in your home which enabled me to continue working," Briones told Recto.

Recto laughed at the unexpected remark and told his former mentor: "You're most welcome. It was a pleasure to host you."

The Department of Education later clarified that Briones was isolated in April not in Recto's family home, but in a separate property in the senator's home province Batangas.

Last month, the 79-year-old DepEd chief tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but showed no symptoms of the disease.

She tested negative for COVID-19 after a few days.

• Education chief Briones has COVID-19, no symptoms

At that time, DepEd officials said Briones had to be temporarily separated from her family as the Secretary had "apprehensions" her family members, "especially her husband," might get infected with the highly-contagious disease.

• Education chief Briones now COVID-19 negative

Under the Department of Health's policy, those who were exposed to COVID-19 patients should be isolated for at least 14 days to see if symptoms of the disease would worsen and to avoid spreading the virus.