MANILA, Philippines — The sister of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III has succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

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Bello himself confirmed the news that his sister, Catherine, passed away Saturday morning.

“Paborito ko ‘yan si Catherine, sumusunod sa akin ‘yun (Catherine was my favorite, she always obeyed me),” Bello said during the Laging Handa online briefing. “The first to die among 10 children.”

The Labor chief said her sister was rushed to the hospital last March 25. It was later discovered that Catherine had contracted COVID-19.

“She was about to recover, I don’t know kung anong nangyari (I don’t know what happened), nag-relapse. Then just this morning, we received the news that my favorite dear sister Cathy already left us,” Bello said.

The Philippines currently has 5,878 COVID-19 cases, with 487 recoveries and 387 deaths.

Due to rising cases of the coronavirus disease, Luzon was placed under a period of enhanced community quarantine. The quarantine is set to be lifted at midnight on May 1.

/MUF

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