By Hannah Torregoza
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Sunday confirmed that a female staff member has tested positive for COVID-19.
Hontiveros identified the staff as lawyer Jaye del Cruz-Bekema, her chief legislative officer, whom she said, also lost her baby at 18 weeks.
“Atty. Jaye dela Cruz-Bekema is my chief legislative officer. We all celebrated with her when she announced to us that she was pregnant and would be able to avail of the 105-day expanded maternity leave we worked on together,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“I was very sad when she informed me on April 25 that she had lost her baby at 18 weeks; and sad again and shocked when she notified us five days after that she had tested positive for COVID-19,” she said.
She said Dela Cruz-Bekema has been under self-quarantine since the start of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and has not been to the Senate since March 9.
“She is complying with all DOH guidelines on home-based COVID management,” Hontiveros said.
“Rest assured our office is doing all that we can to support and to attend to her needs. We will also like to ask for your prayers for Atty. Jaye during this difficult time,” the senator said.
Hontiveros made the disclosure a day after Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara admitted that he tested positive again for the novel coronavirus even after he has recovered.
Other senators who contracted the coronavirus were Senators Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. Some senators, including Senators Pia Cayetano and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., have also confirmed of staff members who contracted the disease.