Last week, netizens lambasted Senator Koko Pimentel for claiming that the lawsuit against him was fatally flawed in connection to the quarantine protocols that he violated when he went to the Makati Medical Center on March 24.
Among those who called out Pimentel was Kapamilya actress Anne Curtis, who said the senator was insensitive and reckless when he accompanied his then-pregnant wife to the Makati Medical Center. The senator had been tested for COVID-19 at the time.
“I understand excited sya sa baby nya, BUT he was waiting for the result of his test. Going to the hospital not knowing if he’s positive or not for covid-19 was reckless & irresponsible – putting lives at risk. Imagine babies with low immune systems pa. It is not a ‘baseless case.'”
I understand excited sya sa baby nya, BUT he was waiting for the result of his test. Going to the hospital not knowing if he’s positive or not for covid-19 was reckless & irresponsible – putting lives at risk. Imagine babies with low immune systems pa. It is not a “baseless case” https://t.co/GFbiiClyUI
— Anne Curtis-Smith (@annecurtissmith) July 17, 2020
Netizens echoed the same sentiments telling that it is very common on the Philippine Government for government officials to be untouched and exempted from the law.
Only in pH untouchable ka pag pulitiko ka at pro government ka turn blind eye when I commit mistake pero pag feeling nila against ka naku they will go all out using their power to trip/pin u down
— Amnda_lois (@Amanda_lois) July 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/piggytobats/status/1284274717570895872?s=20
yun 6 na driver na kinulong di naman sila covid postive hinuli kinulong gusto lang mabuhay may makain so alin ang mas baselesss? Pls. Mr. Pimnetel?
— ARASSEO! (@rosamelelizalde) July 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/JelicaLabrador/status/1284368595745554433?s=20
Even the Makati Medical Center also condemned the conduct of the Senator. Because of Pimentel’s reaction, some hospital personnel had to be put under quarantine, slowing down the hospital’s operations.
On March 25, Koko Pimentel tested positive for coronavirus. He visited the Makati Medical Center (MMC) the day before with his wife Kathryna Yu-Pimentel who was supposed to deliver their child soon.
Yet instead of instantly condemning the conduct of the Senator, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it is not necessary to investigate and certainly not arrest without a warrant, Senator Pimentel for violation of protocol.
Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra also pleaded for ‘compassion’, said he did not order an investigation at this stage. The DOJ could order motu proprio (on its own) investigations without a need for a lawsuit, as it did on the dissemination of false news related to coronavirus.
“During abnormal times like this, when people are prone to commit mistakes or violations of the law, the DOJ will temper the rigor of the law with human compassion. But this is not to say that the DOJ will not act upon the filing of a proper complaint by any interested party,” said Guevarra.
Rico Quicho, former law dean of the University of Makati, and the one who filed the complaint said that he had been requested by the DOJ to appear before the prosecutors to swear on his complaint under oath.
“Just received an Order from the DOJ to appear within 5 days from lifting of ECQ and to file hard copy of Complaint vs Koko Pimentel together with Annexes and to swear under oath,” Quicho said in a Facebook post.
