Mom who died waiting for ride to Bicol tested positive for COVID-19

The remains of the 33-year-old woman who died while waiting for a bus ride to Bicol were buried without being seen by her four children, whom she last saw in January.

Authorities said she initially tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and was waiting to be swabbed for her confirmatory test when she passed away at a Pasay City pedestrian overpass.

According to Vonne Aquino’s report on “24 Oras”, Michelle Silvertino was buried with permission from her sister Josie.

Silvertino died on Friday after five days of living on a footbridge along EDSA-Pasay in the hopes of catching a ride back home to her four children in Calabanga, Bicol.

Police said she tested positive for COVID-19, but Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said Silvertino had yet to be swabbed for confirmatory testing.

“Naka-schedule siya ng June 6. Pauwi na talaga e, kaya lang no’ng June 5 gano’n na nga ang nangyari sa kaniya,” the mayor said. “Pumayag ‘yung kapatid niya, si Josie Silvertino, ang sabi ilibing na lang.”

Silvertino’s children, aged 3 to 11, last saw their mother in January and were no longer able to bid her goodbye.

Long abandoned by their father, the kids will now be under the custody of their uncle, Silvertino’s brother Mario.

“No choice na po kasi kami no’n e. Hindi na siya tinanggap sa cremation kasi po mabaho na nga siya saka bloated na siya. Hindi ko po talaga siya mapuntahan kasi nga po sabi kukuha pa raw po ng travel pass bago makalabas ng Maynila,” Josie said.

“Ang gusto ng mama ko, ipa-autopsy daw po kaya humihingi ng tulong si mama kasi gusto niya malaman ‘yung tunay na nangyari,” Mario added. -Julia Mari Ornedo/NB, GMA News