The House of Representatives lost another member to COVID-19.
Sorsogon Rep. Ma. Bernardita “Ditas” B. Ramos reportedly succumbed to complications triggered by the dreaded disease on Tuesday. She was 72.
The death of Sorsogon’s second district congresswoman followed last month’s demise of Senior Citizens Partylist Rep. Francisco Datol Jr,, also as a result of the 2019 novel coronavirus infection.
The COVID-19 death toll in the Lower House has reached five, two solons and three employes.
Seven other House members have caught the disease since the pandemic was declared last March.
They are Deputy Speakers Johnny Pimentel (Surigao del Sur) and Mujiv Hataman (Basilan) and Reps. Samier Tan (Sulu) , Henry Villarica (Bulacan), Paul Daza (Northern Samar), Luis “JonJon Ferrer IV; (Cavite) and Eric Pineda (1Pacman), chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment.
As of Monday, the Lower Chamber already reported 70 COVID 19 positive cases. The latest to test positive is a woman congressional staff who last reported for work on August 26.
Ramos, sister of former Sorsogon Rep. Deogracias Ramos, is a first-term House member. She won last year’s election against former governor Robert R. Lee.
She died two days after Secretary General Jose Luis Montales confirmed her COVID-19 condition.
Montales said Ramos “developed symptoms and got tested in the province.”
The lady solon was member of the House Committees on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resourcers; Health, Human Rights, Public Works and Highways and Tourism.
Ramos filed 29 bills, mostly of local applications. Among the legislative proposals she filed, seven became laws while 15 were approved on third and final reading by the Lower Chamber.