Those who believe in his past endeavors should carry on what the late former Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali started, chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said.
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Panelo made the statement after Umali's family announced his death Thursday.
The former solon passed away due to cardiac arrest following a bout with cancer and COVID-19. He was 63.
In a statement, Panelo said he was one in mourning the passing of the late lawmaker.
"We were deeply saddened upon learning about the death of Atty. Reynaldo "RU" Umali, former Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative," he said Thursday.
"As we pay tribute to the life of Congressman Umali, we express our sincere condolences to his family, relatives, friends, and loved ones," he added.
Panelo hoped that those who believed in Umali will continue what he started for the country.
"We similarly call upon those who believe in the past endeavors of this outstanding public servant to continue what he initiated for our countrymen," he said.
Umali was a three-term congressman, representing the second district of Oriental Mindoro from 2010 to 2019.
While in Congress, he was chairman of the Committee on Justice, which tackled the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.
He likewise launched a probe on the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison during the time of Sen. Leila de Lima as Justice Secretary.
He was also the chairman of the Committee on Energy.
Umali served the Executive branch of the government by becoming a deputy commissioner at the Bureau of Customs, a director of the Agrarian Reform Management Service of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council, and a division chief at the National Economic and Development Authority.