Kin of first Filipino COVID-19 casualty urges public to show sympathy for victims

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has so far claimed the lives of 12 people in the Philippines.

Among them was 67-year-old Nida Paqueo, known as the first Filipino to succumb to the virus. 

Her daughter Liza detailed her mother’s plight in a heart-wrenching social media post, noting that she “died alone without her loving family and friends around her." Liza also cried foul over the “rumors and malicious misinformation” that circulated on social media about her parents, which she said has “resulted in panic, violence, threats and stigmatization of our family and loved ones.”

Liza opened up to GMA News' Jessica Soho about their family’s ongoing struggles in an episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho."

“Fear really makes people do things they probably normally wouldn’t do. And I understand that in the absence of information, people will fill the gaps with misinformation," she said in an interview.

Her father, on the other hand, was in “stable” condition but was still in quarantine.

“It makes us feel helpless, to be so far. We are struggling with trying to figure out how to best care for right now for my dad but, with respect to my mother, it is pretty painful to even think about her last few days.”

The Philippines has so far recorded 140 COVID-19 cases, including 12 deaths.

And as the country battles the spread of the virus, Liza urges the public to show more sympathy to people with COVID-19.

“Instead of crucifying someone because they may be exposed to the coronavirus, wouldn’t it be better to just have some sympathy?” she said in the interview with Soho.

“We just hope that this message inspires people to choose a different road — one of empathy, sympathy, care and compassion.” — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News