Andronico Del Rosario
Mocha Uson’s manager Bryon Cristobal tested positive for COVID-19 on August 18, making his status public in a post on his page Banat By.
According to Cristobal, he got tested for COVID-19 on August 16 after “not feeling well since my birthday, August 6.”
“After 3 days (August 9), I was well. I thought everything is okay pero hindi pala.” He got the result of his RT-PCR test on August 17, the day after he got swabbed.
This update comes after months of him telling people to stay indoors and calling those who “insist” on going out as pasaway—especially those who attended protests yet still practiced social distancing. To date, not one person from rallies done has tested positive since the PISTON 6 incident.
He then steered his update towards health care workers, citing their bravery in facing the pandemic head-on. “SIla ang bida dito, hindi ako. Sila ang gusto kong bigyan ng pansin dito: ang kanilang sakripisyo at pagmamahal sa ating bayan.”
He ended his update by saying he will “dedicate my all, my channel, my vlog to our modern heroes (sic).”
I am POSITIVESince Aug 6, my birthday, i was not feeling well. I rested and took my usual medicine for my asthma….
Posted by Banat By on Monday, August 17, 2020
Cristobal has frequently gone after people and organizations who have criticized the government’s lackluster COVID-19 response. He has frequently used the “Filipinos are pasawaye3” narrative, using it to call out government critics like Sen. Risa Hontiveros in the process.
Ina naman ito si Hontiveros. Ano ba feeling mo kasalanan ng gobyerno yan???? Kahit anong plano ng gobyerno kung patuloy na pasaway ang tao wala pa din. Ikaw makasisi lang kahit wala na sa logic banat lang! Wag tularan ang mga ganitong tao. https://t.co/bp2ke8EMeo
— BANAT BY PH (@BanatByPh) August 11, 2020
It’s rather ironic that the one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fiercest defenders caught the virus as he himself hasn’t spend that much time outdoors. Does his case prove this statement from a virologist that COVID-19 spreads faster indoors than it does outdoors?
People on social media have shared their thoughts on the current condition of Banat By. Their reactions range from pointing out the irony of his situation…
Take note guys, si Banat By ay August 6 pa may symptoms pero hindi nagpatingin. Lord knows san siya nagpunta. 10 days after pa siya nagpatingin.
Pero pag hindi kaDDS, pasaway yan noh?? 🤨🙄
— Ryan (@toothless7890) August 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/TedArellanoPH/status/1295569119085912064
https://twitter.com/majasuperstar/status/1295639305218437125
https://twitter.com/kaizancaballes/status/1295641973122936832
… to calling it a dose of karma.
'Yung naunahan pa ni Banat By mag-positive sa COVID-19 ang mga tinitira niya at ang mga rallyista.
Not wishing him ill, but let this be a reminder that KARMA is REAL.
— Miss France Sajorda (@PrincessFrance) August 18, 2020
My favorite flower is KARMAtion. #charot
Babanat banat kayo sa mga HCW na porke ang tatamad, di sanay sa trabahong mahirap…
Until it hits you… pic.twitter.com/PXZp52eb1J— Nang-aaCZAR Nikolai (@Simply_Clinton) August 18, 2020
Comments on his post saying he has tested positive have also been flooded by people calling him out for being pasaway himself and suggesting he disinfect using gasoline—a suggestion from no less than the President.
