A HOUSE leader and his wife have contracted the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID) and reminded the public to follow government’s strict health protocols because the disease is not a joke.
This as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) asked the public for prayers for the eternal repose of one of its undersecretaries who succumbed to COVID-19 early Sunday morning.
“Ngayon ko po sasabihin na ‘di biro ang #COVID-19. ‘Wag nating biruin.‘ Wag nating ipawalang bahala. Dahil ‘di po biro ang aking dinanas,” Senior Deputy Speaker and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador “Doy” Leachon said after he and and his wife, Calapan City Councilor Rona Leachon survived COVID-19.
On his Facebook post last Saturday, Leachon narrated his anxiety and fear for his life and family members after going to Manila to spend Christmas with their children, Red, Beige and Cyan.
“#Nguni’t ang kagalakan at excitement ng Kapaskuhan ay naglaho, na biglang nabalot ng pangamba, ng matinding takot at #pakikipaglaban sa buhay. Sa isang iglap na reflection at balik-tanaw, hindi maiwasang masabi ko, kung sapat na ba ang naging city mayor ako at maging congressman na di ko naman pinangarap nguni’t napagsilbihan ko ng maayos, kahit masakit tanggapin at takot, patuloy kong nasabi dahil sa hirap na ng aking naramdaman kung kaloob Mo na po, tatanggapin ko na po siguro,” Leachon said.
“Ang inaalala ko lang nga, si RL (his wife) noon ay kasabay ko na nasa parehong sitwasyon kaya nasabi ko pa, eh paano po ang aming mga anak lalo na si Cyan na eight years old pa lang kung sabay kaming mawala,” said Leachon.
Leachon said their children are all safe and thanked his two doctors, including his older brother, Dr. Anthony Leachon for taking care of them.
Last January 6, Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel “Mannix” Dalipe bared that he and immediate members of his family were infected with COVID-19.
Earlier, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, 1-Pacman party-list Rep. Eric Pineda, Cavite Rep. Luis “Jon-Jon” Ferrer IV, Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Bulacan Rep. Henry Villarica, Sulu Rep. Samier Tan , Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza, Senior Citizens Rep. Francisco Datol Jr., and Sorsogon 2nd District Rep. Ditas Ramos contracted COVID-19.
Unfortunately, Datol and Ramos died of COVID-19 in August and September 2020, respectively.
Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said he received a text message from the daughter of Usec. Joji Aragon, head of the DOLE’s advocacy productivity legislative cluster, informing him of Aragon’s death.
“”Around 4 a.m., I received a text message from her daughter. Huminto daw ang tibok ng puso. The entire DOLE family grieves her untimely demise. Please join us in praying for the eternal repose of the soul of Undersecretary Joji Aragon,” he said in a statement.
Bello said Aragon succumbed to cardiac arrest due to COVID 19. It is believed that she contracted the virus following a procedure she underwent in the second week of December last year.
Aragon, sister of former Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, was in the hospital for almost a month.
“Inaayos na ang kanyang cremation because she died of COVID,” Bello said. With Lee Ann Ducusin
