Corazon de Castro Abalos, the mother of newly-appointed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos, passed away on Monday apparently from complications caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Corazon is the wife of former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. who once headed the MMDA.

“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,” Benhur said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

“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 released by the MMDA, the Abalos family 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.

None of the familiy members have tested positive for Covid-19.