Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Felimon Santos, the country's highest rank for military officers, tested positive for COVID-19, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced Friday. 

Local media reported that early this week, a senior military officer and his wife tested positive for COVID-19. 

According to the Rappler, Santos said on March 24, that he was on home after coming into contact with another senior AFP officer who later tested positive for the virus.

Lorenzana is also self-quarantining after being near Santos on March 21 and 22. 

Meanwhile, The U.S. military has canceled large-scale exercises involving thousands of troops in the Philippines in May due to the coronavirus pandemic.  

"In light of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding COVID-19 pandemic and in the best interest of the health and safety of both countries' forces, it is prudent to cancel Balikatan 2020," U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Phil Davidson said. 

The Philippines has reported a total of 707 confirmed cases and seven more people have died, bringing the death toll to 45, the Department of Health reported on Thursday.