Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III should be given time to recover from COVID-19 before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) looks into his alleged breach of quarantine, the lawmaker’s political party PDP-Laban said last night.
Pimentel was publicly condemned when he visited Makati Medical Center to accompany his pregnant wife for a Cesarean operation on the same night that he found out that he was COVID-19 positive. He was also seen shopping at a Taguig City store a few days after he showed symptoms.
The senator apologized for his actions after the hospital called his actions “reckless” for possibly infecting its patients and staff.
Last week, PDP-Laban said that it will not sanction Pimentel, who happens to be their president, because he allegedly immediately left the hospital after learning he was positive of the disease. They failed to acknowledge that by taking the test, the senator was considered a person under investigation who is required to undergo a 14-day quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
However, the NBI announced last night that it will summon Pimentel for to explain his actions on said quarantine breach. NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said last night, “I understand Senator Pimentel is also being investigated. I am not only sure when is his appearance considering that he is still under quarantine.”
PDP-Laban Executive Director Ron Munsayac tweeted last night that the NBI’s action was “reasonable and logical” but asked them to give Pimentel “a few weeks to rest, recover, and beat the COVID-19 virus.”
It's reasonable and logical for the NBI to invite @SenKokoPimentel for questioning re possible violations of quarantine protocols. But please let us give the man a few weeks to rest, recover, and beat the #COVIDー19 virus.
— Ron Munsayac (@RonMunsayac) April 1, 2020
The NBI’s investigation of the senator was announced shortly after the bureau invited Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto for questioning for allegedly breaking the Bayanihan [Camaraderie] to Heal as One Act of 2020. The probe was widely criticized by netizens, many of whom said that it should have been Pimentel who should be investigated.
Earlier, the Justice Department said they will not investigate Pimentel, but several lawyers said that they are planning to file a complaint against the senator.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque acknowledged that Pimentel breached his quarantine, but said that other agencies, which he did not identify, should be the ones responsible for penalizing the erring lawmaker.
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