Corazon Abalos, mother of MMDA chair Benhur, dies after contracting COVID-19

Corazon de Castro Abalos, mother of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos and wife of former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., has passed away after contracting COVID-19.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, MMDA chair Abalos wrote a message for his late mother.

“I am sorry if I was not able to keep my promise to you in the hospital that you would be healed and would be strong with us,” he said.

“I’m very sorry mommy. I know of how you fought up to your last breath to fulfill this dream to be with dad and us your family for almost seven months. Our heart is shattered right now of your passing,” he added.

In a statement of the Abalos family released by the MMDA, they said that their matriarch died of severe sepsis, secondary to pneumonia due to COVID-19 on Monday.

“The night before her passing, she tested positive for COVID-19. Some of our family members have been exposed and immediately subjected to testing pursuant to IATF protocols,” they said.

According to them, all family members  have undergone COVID-19 tests  that yielded negative results.

“Despite this, the members exposed still have to undergo another five-day quarantine and another swabbing, abiding by health guidelines,” they said.

“The family decided that instead, there will be a service and mass on the 2nd of February, should everything and everyone be cleared,” they added. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News