Former Mindoro lawmaker Umali, 63

MANILA, Philippines — Former Oriental Mindoro congressman Reynaldo Umali, who contracted coronavirus disease 2019 last month, died of cardiac arrest yesterday. He was 63.

Rep. Alfonso Umali confirmed the death of his younger brother, saying the former congressman was also diagnosed with cancer.

“Noong Dec. 12, nagpa-check up siya, nakita na may COVID siya. Tapos nakita na may Stage 3 cancer siya... Ilang days lang, na-aggravate, naging Stage 4 liver cancer,“ the older Umali said in an interview over dzBB.

Umali was chairman of the House justice panel that investigated the alleged links of Sen. Leila de Lima to drug syndicates.

He led the impeachment proceedings against former chief justices Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Renato Corona.

Malacañang expressed its condolences to the family of Umali.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. offered a silent prayer before he started his press briefing yesterday to remember Umali and all those who died of COVID-19.

“The Nograles family expresses our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of former Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali. Manong Rey was a colleague of ours at the House of Representatives from the 15th to 17th Congress,” Secretary to the Cabinet Karlo Alexei Nograles said.

“The nation has lost a brilliant legislator and remarkable public servant. We pray for his eternal repose,” Nograles added.

He said he and former lawmakers considered Umali a source of inspiration for his “staunch positions and fiery advocacies, particularly on issues affecting the Filipino people.”— Christina Mendez