Membership shopping company S&R confirmed that Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III went to their grocery to shop goods one week before he was found positive to CoViD-19.

On Thursday, March 26, the supermarket chain said that they quickly launched an investigation when several witnesses saw Pimentel shopping at S&R Bonifacio Global City on March 16, 2020.

After reviewing CCTVs, they discovered that the rumors are real and Pimentel really went to buy groceries despite the reports that he already experienced body pains and flu around on March 14.

On March 18, Pimentel started to show symptoms again by having 38-degrees Celcius fever.

According to them, they already made the necessary steps to keep their employees safe by putting all the staff possibly contacted by the Senator.

They also disinfected the whole S&R BGC to assure the erasure of the possible virus left by the Senator.

“It was confirmed that the senator was at S&R BGC on March 16, 2020. CCTV footage showed him checking out at counter 13 at exactly 1:59 PM,” the statement of S&R read.

“As a result, S&R employees who were in contact with the senator were already placed in quarantine. S&R BGC also took extra disinfection steps,” they added.

“We would like to assure S&R members that we are taking measures to maintain the safety of our members. We disinfect our stores daily and ascertain that our staff is clear before work. Shopping carts and handles, front-end belts, item shelves, and registers are kept clean every single day. Our employees are constantly reminded of the safety precautions regarding the virus,” they also said.

Unlike Makati Medical Center, S&R chose not to denounce Pimentel and only said that they’re going to “respond with compassion, prayer, and service,”

Yesterday, the public was alarmed and expressed anger after Pimentel, a senator of the Republic of the Philippines allegedly violated the quarantine protocols by going to Makati Medical Center despite waiting for his CoViD-19 test results.

The camp of the Senator insisted that Pimentel was not aware of his CoViD-19 status when he visited the hospital.

Pimentel’s staff also launched a contract tracing to find the people he encountered.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation assured the people that they’re not required to pay anything to be treated if they contracted with CoViD-19.

PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales announced that they’re going to shoulder the treatment for CoViD-19 patients even if they got treated in a private hospital.

However, he said that only Filipinos who got hospitalized will be covered and not the people who chose to quarantine themselves at their homes.

Aside from the treatment, Philhealth also assured that CoViD-19 testing is free.

“Lahat ng tatamaan ng COVID-19 wala silang dapat na ilabas na pera. Lahat ng gastusin, whether public or private hospital, sasagutin ng PhilHealth,” Morales said.

“‘Yung mga nagka-quarantine sa bahay ay hindi natin sasagutin dahil unang-una hindi naman natin alam ko ano ang ginamit nila na gamot, ‘yung ginamit na process. ‘Yun ang nako-confine ‘yun lang ang masasagot ng PhilHealth.” he added.

He also said that they already released P1.6-B worth of financial assistance to accredited hospitals that treating COVID-19 patients.

Philhealth already announced that they’re going to release P30-B to finance the hospitals accepting patients with CoViD-19.

• solation package: amounting to P14,000 for patients under investigation. It can also be claimed by confirmed cases with mild symptoms and PUIs who tested negative for COVID-19.
• Referral package: amounting to P4,000 for patients from Level 1 or lower-level hospitals referred to higher-level hospitals with capacity for quarantine procedures.
• Moderate pneumonia: amounting to P15,000 for those experiencing moderate pneumonia.
• Severe pneumonia: amounting to P32,000 for those experiencing severe pneumonia

For more information you can call Philhealth Hotline 632-637-6177 or 02-84417442.

Doctors, nurses and other health professionals are also going to receive 100,000 pesos if they get sick while treating COVID-19 patients, and 1,000,000 pesos if they didn’t survive the virus.

RJ ‘Thinking Pinoy’ Nieto couldn’t handle his emotion while criticizing Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel, who reportedly went to Makati Medical Center to accompany his wife despite tested positive to CoViD-19.

On a 16-minute live video, Nieto slammed Pimentel for his irresponsible behavior that could cost the lives of nurses and doctors working at Makati Med.

Nieto pointed out that many doctors are losing their lives in the country while battling CoViD-19, estimating that there’s a professional medical dying for every 110 confirmed cases of the virus in the country.

That is the reason why Nieto was very alarmed by the recent actions of Pimentel.

The blogger urged PDP-Laban to expel from their political party if they wanted to keep their image clean.

“Pag hindi niyo tinangal si Koko, ay baka manalo pa ang mga dilaw sa susunod na eleksyon,” Nieto said.

“Napakairesponsable, gawain ba ng matinong tao yun?,” he added.

According to him, a blogger like him who doesn’t have any position in the government is spending all his time finding donors of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), while public officials like Pimentel, who should be doing it are only giving more problems to the health professionals.

“Hindi ko trabaho na gawin to, pero naaawa ako sa bayan ko, samantalang si Koko yun ang trabaho niya pero imbis na makatulong naka perwisyo pa,” he said.

Nieto pointed out that Pimentel forced doctors and nurses who were supposed to fight CoViD-19 to isolate themselves for 14 days, and they’re not allowed to work during the whole period of the quarantine.

After sharing the story of CoViD patient 194 to his followers, Nieto started to cry and told Pimentel that Vice President Leni Robredo was doing better than him.

“Si Leni yung mga dilaw na fashion designer kinausap niya lahat, gumagawa sila ng PPE, isipin niyo si Leni ganoon na nga kahina ang ulo gumagawa pa ng PPE, sabihin niyo ng epal si Leni o hindi pero kahit kaepalan nakakatulong si Leni hindi katulad mo Koko na nakakasagabal lang,” he said.

“Mahiya ka, daig ka pa ni Leni, tatlo, apat na taon nating nilalait yung tao tapos siya yung humahanap ng paraan,” he added.

Nieto then urged Pimentel to resign if he still respects himself.

“Mag retire ka na sa politika, hindi ka para diyan,” Nieto told Pimentel.

The video already reached more than 100,000 reactions and 3-M views on social media.

A lawyer announced that they’re preparing to file charges against Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III over his infamous Makati Medical Center visit on Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, Atty. Rico Quicho of Quicho & Angeles Law told Pimentel that they’re already studying the possible complaint that could be filed against the Senator.

Quicho also asked other people to help them especially law students and lawyers.

According to him, it’s unfortunate if people would only let Pimentel escape his responsibility for the Makati med incident.

“Koko inaaral na namin at magfifile kami ng Complaint. Sa lahat ng gustong sumali, tulungan tayo. Hanep naman kung papalagpasin natin ito. Law students and lawyers unite,” Quicho said.

“Protect natin mga medical practitioners sa mga ganitong tao,” he added.

The post already reached 3,600 shares on social media as of writing.

The Department of Justice told the reporters yesterday that they’re not going to investigate Pimentel’s recent action without any complaint being filed against the senator.

“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 Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

It was reported yesterday that Pimentel went to Makati Med to accompany his wife who’s planning to undergo to give birth via caesarian section.

However, Pimentel found that he was positive from CoViD-19 while he was inside the hospital and only left the building after some advice from the doctors.

Following the incident, Makati Med denounced Pimentel’s action, calling it a breach of strict infection and containment protocols of their hospital.

“We denounce the irresponsible and reckless action of the senator. He added to the burden of a hospital trying to respond in its most competent and aggressive manner to cope with the daunting challenges of this CoViD-19 outbreak,” Makati Med statement read.

Meanwhile, blogger RJ ‘Thinking Pinoy’ Nieto listed some of the possible laws violated by Pimentel.

1. Non-disclosure of his status as PUI/COVID-19 Positive patient – Section 9(e) of RA 11332.
2. Violation of Enhanced Community Quarantine regulations – Section 8(a) of RA 9271.
3. Criminal Negligence – Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code.
4. Disobedience to Agents of a Person in Authority – Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code
5. Graft and Corruption – Section 3(e) RA 3019
6. Suspension or Expulsion as Member of the Senate for Unparliamentary Behavior
7. Disbarment or Suspension of Membership with the Philippine Bar – Code of Professional Responsibility
8. 8. Accountability and Obligation to Uphold Public Interest as Public Office
9. Civil Liability for Torts & Quasi-Delicts
10. Murder under Art 248 (4) of the Revised Penal Code

Pimentel’s camp is not yet releasing a statement over the announcement of Atty. Quicho.

UPDATED:

A video showing Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III socializing in a birthday party has recirculated on social media.

Pimentel was facing controversy after he allegedly exposed some staff of Makati Medical Center to COVID-19 after he was found positive to the virus.

On Wednesday, Founding Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines Joma Sison, posted a video of Pimentel while socializing with different high-profile guests.

Senator Manny Pacquiao was also spotted on the video, which seems to introduce some guests to Pimentel.

It can also be shown that Pimentel was cheek-kissing some of the guests

Sison suspected that Pimentel was already contracted COVID-19 when he attended the said party during that time.

However, even Sison couldn’t give the exact date when the video was taken as it was only sent to him by one of his social media followers or friends.

“Sabi ng nagpadala na isa ito sa dalawang parties na dinaluhan ni Koko after he was found to have Covid-19. At any rate, binatikos na siya ng isang ospital sa pagkakalat,” Sison said.

A netizen said that the video was possibly taken before the national government imposed ‘enhanced community quarantine’.

“I heard this was taken before lockdown but Pimentel was already positive of COVID-19. Selfish guy. Even MMC health workers were forced to quarantine because of him. if someone caught the virus from him and dies, can he be sued for reckless endangerment? Dapat lang diba,” netizen Marilen Alonzo.

Finally, someone informed Sison that the video was taken during a fellowship dinner consisting of PDP-LABAN members and supporters on March 4.

It was reported that Pimentel and other Senators were only exposed to a COVID-19 positive patient on March 11 so its possible that the former was not yet sick during the fellowship dinner.

UPDATE: PDP-Laban spokesman Johnny Pimentel said that Senator Koko had a contact with a positive COVID person on March 5.

He urged all the members of PDP-Laban to take a COVID-19 test.

Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III’s wife, Kathryn Yu-Pimentel denied that her husband also went inside the delivery room of Makati Medical Center that could endanger other pregnant women, nurses, and doctors who are using its facilities.

On a text message, Mrs. Pimentel insisted that her husband never reached the delivery room and remained in the corridors and sitting while waiting for her.

“I feel really sad they are insisting I was in the [delivery room] [and] Sen. Koko never reached inside the [delivery room]. I took the stress test for the baby inside the examination room. I even asked the nurse anong tawag sa room na pinagdalhan sa akin The examination room is beside their recovery room which was still far from the [delivery room]. And Sen. Koko didn’t join me sa (in the) examination room last night, too,” she said in a text message to GMA News.

She also denied that Pimentel was already aware of being COVID-19 positive before they traveled to Makati Med.

“Senator Koko never entered the delivery room of Makati Medical. He went with me sa Makati Med yesterday to be admitted not knowing he was COVID-positive yet,” she said.

“Then RITM called him around 9 p.m. that he was positive. But he was just in the room. As soon as he found out he was positive, he left me already and told my OB about his situation,” she added.

Mrs. Pimentel explained that they both quarantined themselves for 10 days before meeting each other to go to Makati Med.

She then criticized Makati Medical Center for insisting a story that is not yet verified.

“I no longer understand why Makati Med, given their prestige name, would insist on a story that is not even true. They can check the CCTV too,” she said.

Senator Pimentel also denied that he roamed around the hospital despite knowing that he’s COVID-19 positive already, saying that he had no choice but to walk because he needs to get out of the building.

“I left her in the hospital. I never went inside the delivery room. Since I was already inside then I had to leave. Hence, I had to walk out of the hospital. That’s walking out, not touring.” he said.

Pimentel in another interview also asked the public to pray for her wife who’s now under isolation because of being exposed to a COVID-19 positive.

Regardless of what happened, Pimentel was hoping that Makati Med is going to treat his wife professionally.

“I need prayers for her kasi number one: she’s about to give birth. And siyempre being the wife of a COVID-positive, she’s under isolation, so kawawang-kawawa, I mean, imagine, eight plus months pregnant and under isolation pa,” he said.

“I hope that the doctors will be able to solve her situation, give her some comfort and assurances that they will take of her. Ayaw lang natin yung feeling na discriminated against, ako naman ‘yong positive, ‘di naman siya. Pleast take care of her,” he added.

The bay’s delivery was put on hold as the doctors of Mrs. Pimentel insisted that they’re not going to perform the operation unless she tests negative for COVID-19.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has been criticized tremendously on social media after he accompanied his pregnant wife to Makati Medical Center (Makati Med) while waiting for the result of his COVID-19 test which turned out to be positive.

According to the official statement of Makati Med, they denounced Pimentel for breaching the strict infection and containment protocols of their delivery room complex.

Some nurses and doctors working at Makati Med already quarantined themselves for 14 days because of possible exposure to Pimentel.

“Senator Aquilino Martin D. Pimentel III, whose result for CoViD-19 testing turned out to be positive, brought his wife to the hospital for delivery via cesarean section. By being in MMC, Senator Pimentel violated the Home Quarantine Protocol, entered the premises of the MMC-DR, thus unduly exposed healthcare workers to possible infection. As a result, a number of our nurses and doctors may need to be quarantine, which will further deplete the dwindling workforce of the hospital. The entire Delivery Room Complex will have to undergo decontamination and disinfection before it can be used,” the statement reads.

People under investigation (PUI) should quarantine themselves at home for 14 days until they’re waiting for the result of their COVID-19 test.

However, Pimentel still went to the hospital together with her wife who’s also now a PUI because of being exposed to her husband.

“His admonition for everyone to observe social distancing, enhanced community quarantine measures, washing of hands and personal hygiene are nothing but empty rhetoric because he himself violated all those,” Makati Med said.

They also said that Pimentel “created another problem” for Makati Medical Center.

However, they assured that they already took actions to decontaminate and disinfect the delivery room complex of their hospital.

They also asked for prayers that none of their staff will get infected by COVID-19 because of Pimentel’s “irresponsible and reckless action”.