MANILA – Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is ready to answer charges for his supposed breach of quarantine protocols.
“I will respond in due time after we read the allegations and compare them with what is in the law,” according to Pimentel who was tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In a statement on Friday, Pimentel stressed, “We are in an entirely new environment where everything is in a state of flux. I believe even the so-called protocols have changed over time. Everything will be clarified in due time.”
Private lawyer Rico Quicho has said he is looking into possible criminal, civil and administrative charges against the senator for violating the home quarantine protocol and unduly exposing the Makati Medical Center hospital staff to possible infection after accompanying his pregnant wife to the hospital.
Pimentel came under fire for going to the hospital on Tuesday night where his pregnant wife was scheduled to give birth. But he said he immediately left after getting a call from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine regarding his positive result.
Makati Medical Center denounced the lawmaker’s “reckless” action. Department of Health secretary Francisco Duque III also agreed that Pimentel broke home quarantine protocols.
Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Gordon appealed for public understanding on Pimentel’s actions, saying there were far more important things to talk about with this situation.
“Kilala ko si Koko. Matinong tao ‘yan, hindi salbahe, hindi nang-aabuso. Huwag naman nating pagpiyestahan,” Gordon said in an interview with DZBB. “Now is not the time na magsisihan tayo. I think nag-apologize na ‘yung tao.”
“Alam mo, bagong kasal ‘yan at may anak siyang Caesarean ang mangyayari,” he added. “Ang daming taong umiikot na mayroong ganiyan, hindi lang ho senador. Pero dapat talaga nagbigay siya ng magandang halimbawa.”/PN
I agree strongly with Senator Gordon’s views. Senator Pimente has no ill motive in accompanying his wife to MMC but acted on a human instinct of a loving and caring husband full of excitement to a wife who is due to deliver their first child by ceasarian operation. Had he known he is COVID-19 positive, he will not get near his wife as he will endanger his wife’s life and their baby’s as well and will never accompany her to the hospital. The fact he accompanies his wife to the hospital establishes no ill motive on his part. Pls. have compassion on him for he is just human and so therefore not perfect and is subject to err in judgement considering the difficult situation that his wife is in. I can imagine the indescribable feeling of fear engulfing him primarily for his wife and his baby upon learning the result of his COVID-19 test. Let’s pray for them please for God to keep them all safe. RMC staff should always be on full guard against COVID-19 for it is COVID-19 time and expectedly they will be dealing with sick people, NON-COVID-19 or COVID-19, with or without symptoms.