CONG. REY UMALI/ TWITTER
Former Oriental Mindoro 2nd District congressman, Rep. Reynaldo Umali on Thursday morning passed away at the age of 63.
Umali was hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on December 12, 2020, son Ian confirmed during an interview with DZMM Teleradyo. “Other than Covid, my dad was also battling with cancer,” he added.
Umali was already immunocompromised when he contracted Covid-19. His worsening symptoms resulted in the progression of cancer and then sepsis. Oriental Mindoro Representative Alfonso Umali in an interview with DZBB radio said that this brother had Stage 3 liver cancer “tapos ilang days lang, na-aggravate, naging Stage 4 liver cancer.” Umali went into cardiac arrest and died on the morning of January 7, 2021.
“Since nagkaroon siya ng COVID, he has to be cremated after 3 days,” Ian said.
The ex-congressman served Oriental Mindoro’s second district for three terms and he was the Committee on Justice Chairperson at the House of Representatives during his last term.
The House of Representatives released a statement extending their sympathies to Umalis. “A dedicated public servant, he represented the people of the 2nd district of Oriental Mindoro during the 15th, 16th, and 17th Congresses. Our prayers and heartfelt sympathies to the family and loved ones that he has left behind, especially to his siblings and our colleagues in the 18th Congress, Reps. Alfonso V. Umali Jr. and Ma. Victoria V. Umali,” the statement read.
In a Covid-19 Situation Report, the World Health Organization noted that according to available data, those over 60 years old and those with “underlying medical conditions (such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer) are “at a higher risk of getting severe Covid-19 disease.” (Krizzia Nieva)