Pateros loses health department chief to virus

MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the Pateros health department has died of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Mayor Ike Ponce announced in an online address that Dr. Ronald Raymundo, 54, passed away on Monday at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City due to complications caused by COVID-19.“His death was not only a loss [to] his family, but also [to] the whole municipality of Pateros. He died while serving our people,” Ponce said.

In a statement, the local government said that Raymundo’s “motivation and courage to serve [was] an inspiration that lifts our spirits to go on and battle all odds and danger in our fight against this pandemic.”

Ponce said they were currently monitoring 99 active cases.

However, he allayed fears about the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila’s last remaining municipality, attributing it to the ongoing “aggressive community testing.”

Last week, the Pateros government opened its own mega swabbing facility at AMC gym in Barangay San Roque. It plans to test not only residents but also nonresidents who work in the municipality.

Those who want to undergo testing should fill out a case investigation form online at or get one from their barangay.