Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 29) — Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. confirmed on Sunday that one of his staffers died due to COVID-19.
“I lost my staff and friend of almost 30 years to this COVID-19 this afternoon. I ask everyone for prayers especially para sa kanyang iniwang mga mahal sa buhay,” the senator said in a Facebook post.
Revilla described the staffer as a friend who had been with him since his time working in the acting industry. He also lamented the sudden death, saying that he wasn’t able to say his last goodbye.
“Salamat sa pagmamahal hindi lang sa akin kundi pati sa aking pamilya – asawa, mga anak, at mga apo – lalo na sa mga panahon ng matinding pagsubok hindi mo ako iniwan,” he wrote.
“Pero ngayon, napakabilis ka namang kinuha sa amin, at ‘ni huling pamamaalam, hindi namin pwedeng ibigay sa’yo. Napakasakit.”
The Philippines has recorded 1,418 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of March 29. Of these, 71 resulted in death, while 42 patients have already recovered.
On Saturday, the senator confirmed that one of his staffers tested positive for the viral disease. According to him, the test results arrived on Thursday, after the patient was brought to the hospital due to complications from pneumonia. It has almost been three weeks since their last contact, he said in a Facebook post.
“Ginagawa na po ngayon ng Medical Services Bureau ng Senado ang contact-tracing sa lahat ng maaari niyang nakasalamuha, pati noong magpunta siya sa Senado noong March 16,” Revilla added.
Revilla also earlier self-quarantined, along with several other senators, following the March 16 confirmation that Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri tested positive for the viral disease.
The senator urged the public to stay at home and protect themselves from the viral disease. “Dalangin kong huwag na mapagdaanan pa ninuman ang sakit na pinagdadaanan namin ngayon,” he added. [Translation: I pray that no one will ever go through the pain we are going through today.]
[Translation: Thank you for your love, not only for me but for my whole family — my wife, children, and grandchildren — and especially that during times of difficulty, you didn’t leave me.]
[Translation: But now, you’ve been taken away from us so quickly that we weren’t even able to say our final goodbye to you. It hurts a lot.]
[Translation: The Medical Services Bureau of the Senate is conducting contact-tracing, including those he may have been in contact with when he went to the Senate last March 16.]
