A Senate staff member who was waiting for his COVID-19 test died this morning of pneumonia.
The employee, who was working at the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, was tested just yesterday, said his superior, retired Major General Rene Samonte. The patient was diagnosed with pneumonia on Monday; he received an angioplasty years ago.
Senate Secretary Myra Villarica said she couldn’t “confirm anything yet” while his coronavirus test result is pending.
The Senate’s human resource department has already informed other employees of their colleague’s death, who passed away at about 9am. To date, there have been 16 people who have been infected with the coronavirus in the Senate, including Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sonny Angara, and Koko Pimentel.
Read: #KokoKulong: Filipinos want Pimentel arrested for exposing staff at Makati hospital to COVID-19
Pimentel became the center of controversy in March when he visited a Makati City hospital despite allegedly being aware that he had COVID-19. The senator has already apologized for his misdeed but continues to insist that he left the hospital as soon as he learned that he was positive of the coronavirus.
A group of lawyers has already filed a case against Pimentel, but the Department of Justice has yet to start with the hearings.
Aside from the Senate employee who passed away today, a long-time member of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla’s team died of COVID-19 in March.
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