MANILA (2nd UPDATE) - Former Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Rep. Reynaldo Umali died Thursday morning, his family said. He was 63.

The 3-term lawmaker passed away at 8:25 a.m. at a hospital in Taguig City, his son Ian Mikhael confirmed to ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"We're gonna hold a small funeral for him. And then after that, he has to be cremated after 3 days," he said.

Umali was hospitalized on Dec. 12 after contracting COVID-19. His wife, son and several household staff also caught the virus but have recovered.

"It's just that my dad who, unfortunately, wasn’t able to recover," Ian Mikhael said.

Umali previously visited the hospital for a checkup after being diagnosed with cancer.

During his last term in Congress, Umali chaired the House Committee on Justice who voted to impeach then former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. He also led an investigation into alleged drug-dealing inside the national penitentiary that supposedly involved Sen. Leila de Lima.

'DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT'

After his third term as Oriental Mindoro representative, he ran unsuccessfully for governorship in the province in the May 2019 elections. His brother Alfonso Umali Jr. replaced him in his post in the lower house.

"After the 2019 elections, it was the first few years of the whole family getting to hang out with him, talk with him, bond with him," Ian Mikhael said.

"During in 9 years when he was in public service as a congressman, he barely had time for other things but just to focus on public service."

Ian Mikhael said the family expresses gratitude to those who extended their condolences.

"The whole family just really want to say thank you to everybody who joined the novena and everybody that messaged my dad during this whole time," he said.

"We just want them to know we appreciate all of them and thank you for all the prayer and support."

The House of Representatives released a statement saying it mourns Umali's passing.

"A dedicated public servant, he represented the people of the 2nd district of Oriental Mindoro during the 15th, 16th, and 17th Congresses," the lower chamber said.

"Our prayers and heartfelt sympathies to the family and loved ones that he has left behind, especially to his siblings and our colleagues in the 18th Congress, Reps. Alfonso V. Umali Jr. and Ma. Victoria V. Umali."

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