Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 10) — The Department of Justice will once again look into the complaint of breach in quarantine protocol filed against Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III after receiving a report from the hospital the lawmaker visited in March while awaiting his COVID-19 test result.
DOJ on Wednesday said it will reopen the criminal investigation after the National Bureau of Investigation received a copy of the incident report from Makati Medical Center Medical Director Dr. Saturnino Javier. It was not clear why the hospital’s report came months after the incident.
“In view of the foregoing and in line with the policy of admitting all evidence that could assist in the judicious resolution of complaint, the preliminary investigation of this case is hereby reopened,” Assistant State Prosecutor Wendell Bendoval wrote.
Pimentel visited the hospital in March to accompany his pregnant wife even though he was already showing symptoms of COVID-19. He later tested positive for the highly-contagious virus, drawing outrage from the public for endangering patients and hospital personnel during his visit.
The hospital management castigated Pimentel for violating home quarantine rules, calling his action “reckless and unacceptable.”
Pimentel and the complainant, former dean of the University of Makati Rico Quicho, were asked to submit their replies on MMC’s report by September 21.
Legal experts previously said the senator may be fined up to ₱50,000 or face a jail term of one to six months for failing to disclose that he was suspected of having COVID-19 at the time. For violating the enhanced community quarantine, he can be fined between ₱10,000 and ₱50,000 or jailed for up to a year.
Pimentel earlier apologized for accompanying his wife to the hospital, but said the trip was “essential” as she was about to give birth. He also said he only learned about his positive COVID-19 test when he was already in the hospital.
