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”.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles confirmed that the treatment for COVID-19 would be shoulder by the government.

During the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) press conference, Nograles said that the treatment for COVID-19 patients should be free as it already included to the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Law,”

“Kasama sa batas na pinasa ng Kongreso at pinirmahan ng Pangulo na they will be covered,” Nograles said.

Bayanihan law includes the immediate providing of “healthcare, including medical tests and treatments, to COVID-19 patients, persons under investigation or persons under monitoring,”

The law also gave President Duterte to procure testing kits faster and other goods that are used to fight COVID-19.

It also prioritized the allocation of goods and supplies to hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.

It also provides for a ₱100,000 compensation for all health workers who may contract a severe COVID-19 infection while in the line of duty. Families of those who die while fighting the pandemic will be given ₱1 million.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health already announced that they’re going to conduct 1,000 COVID-19 tests per day.

“Pag tinotal po natin lahat ng nagagawa natin for one day, average po is about 950 to 1,000 tests per day ang ginagawa sa ating ngayon,”  Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario  Vergeire said.

“Given that we already have this testing kits that have been donated to us, ito po’ng dami ng mga testing kits na ito ay maaring sufficient na para sa ating mga kababayan sa ating present time,” she added.

However, they said that they’re still cannot do mass testing as their testing kit supply is still not enough.

Former Solicitor General and defeated senatorial candidate Florin Hilbay criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to ask Congress for special powers to address the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines.

In his tweet, Hilbay said that President Duterte had all the chances to prevent the virus from entering the Philippine territory by implementing an early travel ban on Mainland China and inform all Filipinos about the possible dangers of the virus.

It can be remembered that the

“Sir, don’t make it appear as if you were powerless prior to the Special Powers Law given by Congress. You had all powers to impose a travel ban on China, inform Filipinos, & prepare all institutions of government as early as January. You had enough funds,” Hilbay said.

“YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING,” he added.

Sir, don't make it appear as if you were powerless prior to the Special Powers Law given by Congress.

You had all powers to impose travel ban on China, inform Filipinos, & prepare all institutions of government as early as January. You had enough funds.

YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

— Pilo Hilbay (@fthilbay) March 24, 2020

President Duterte, a few months ago was accused of letting the Chinese enter the country despite the outbreak happening in Wuhan and he only issued a travel ban when the World Health Organization declared the outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

Despite his criticisms yesterday to the President, Hilbay then praised Duterte for his well-mannered speech moments before he signed the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” into the law.

According to him, Duterte’s recent speech is a product of the criticisms being received by the President.

“The President’s speech last night was impressive–sumunod sa script, walang mura at yabang. It was the clearest display of the power of free speech and public criticism: narinig nya ang galit at sama ng loob ng mga tao,” Hilbay said.

“So if you think speaking out does nothing, think again,” he added.

The President's speech last night was impressive–sumunod sa script, walang mura at yabang.

It was the clearest display of the power of free speech and public criticism: narinig nya ang galit at sama ng loob ng mga tao.

So if you think speaking out does nothing, think again.

— Pilo Hilbay (@fthilbay) March 25, 2020

Hilbay is one of the known critics of the Duterte administration who questioned the first version of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

“Would you trust the President, or any other person for that matter, to wield this kind of power to fight #COVID19PH ?” he said on a past tweet.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, the lone member of the Senate who voted against “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” explained on a lengthy Facebook post why she decided to oppose it while most of her colleagues supported it.

Hontiveros questioned if the people will really receive the money being planned to allocate by the government to fight the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines.

According to her, the measure gives the President “near-absolute control over public funds in national government agencies and even government-owned and controlled corporations,” that may be subject to abuse and corruption.

“The President’s new powers would authorize him to now stop altogether important government projects and divert their funding to other uses, with little check and balances in place. Paano ngayon mamomonitor ng taumbayan ang paggamit ng napakalaking mga pondo na ito, at paano tayo makakasiguro na ito nga ay napupunta sa paglaban sa COVID-19? Ano ang garantiya na hindi mapupunta ang kaban ng bayan sa mga negosyante o Chinese companies na malapit sa administrasyon?” Hontiveros said.

“We cannot and should not blindly trust the use of these important funds to a government, which during this health crisis, has chosen to spend P14 billion on tourism projects, but has been unable to immediately and sufficiently deliver PPEs to our doctors, health workers, law enforcement agents, and other frontliners,” she added.

The lady Senator cited several laws that could prove that giving special powers to the President was unnecessary.

“The Executive Branch does not need special powers for it to act urgently and decisively in meeting the immediate needs of the people amid the COVID-19 outbreak. While I am grateful that my amendment for the provision of cash transfers to poor Filipino families was included in the bill, even this provision does not require the grant of new powers. Our arsenal of readily-available laws and policies, notably the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184), the Price Act (RA 7582) and the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act (RA 11332), has not been fully utilized in the fight versus COVID-19.” she said.

“These laws, if partnered with a supplemental budget, already authorize the government to purchase ample personal protective equipment (PPEs), medical supplies, relief packages, and other needed items, secure that prices of basic goods will remain affordable, and impose preventive community-wide measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, among others. I know because these were part of my proposals during the start of this crisis – a crisis that the government underestimated at the beginning,” she added.

Hontiveros believes that mass COVID-19 testing, giving PPEs and hazard pay to the frontliners is already enough to solve the problem and not the special powers being given to the President.

“Hindi special powers ang sagot sa pandemic na ito, kundi political will para isulong ang mass-testing, ibigay ang PPEs at hazard pay sa mga frontliners, at ihatid ang cash assistance sa mga mahihirap na pamilya at nawalan ng kita. Bakit special powers na ang hinihingi habang hindi pa tuluyang nagamit ang kasalukuyang mandato at kapangyarihan na mayroon ang Pangulo?” she stated.

“Ang hinihingi ng publiko ay klarong programa laban sa krisis na dulot ng COVID-19. Sana ay iwasan natin ang isa pang krisis na maaring dalhin sa taumbayan ng korapsyon at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan.” she added.

Hontiveros vowed to “closely watch” the activities of the executive department to prevent any attempts of the President to misuse his special powers.

“These expanded powers should translate to actually help to our vulnerable sectors, such as cash assistance to poor families and hazard pay to frontliners. With these new powers at Malacañang’s command, they have no excuse to let our people down,” she said.

Yesterday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III was saddened by Hontiveros’ decision to oppose the Bayanihan Act.

“Nakakalungkot isipin na kahit kailangan tulungan ang hirap na 18M Filipinos at mga Frontline health workers, meron Pa rin nakuhang bumoto ng contra!” Sotto said.

19 senators voted in favor of the Bayanihan Act.

Nine members of the House of Representatives voted against the bill that will give President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to address the COVID-19 crisis in the country.

The lawmakers who opposed it explained that the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act of 2020,” might give President Rodrigo Duterte too much power that could be used to corrupt the money of the people.

They are:

• Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas
• Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Jane Elago
• Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate
• Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Eufemia Cullamat
• Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite
• ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro
• Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman
• MAGDALO party-list Rep. Manuel Cabochan III
• Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Gabriel Bordado

According to Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, he voted against it because the house version gave President Duterte a permission to “reprogram, reallocate, and realign from savings on other items of appropriations in the Fiscal Year 2020 GAA in the Executive Department, as may be necessary and beneficial to fund measures to address and respond to the COVID-19 emergency.”

“Ang masyadong malawak at hindi malinaw na kapangyarihan ay lagi’t laging bulnerable sa pagsasamantala, kahit sa panahon man ng krisis at pandemiko,” Zarate said.

Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Jane Elago expressed the same thoughts with Zarate.

Addressing this concern, the bills passed in the Senate and the House limited the President’s power to realign funds to “savings” within the Executive Department.

Brosas said that the bill may give a big pork barrel to the office of the President and she also mentioned that Duterte doesn’t have clear plan on how the solve the crisis.

“Ngayon, tila naghuhugas-kamay ang gobyerno sa maling prayoridad sa badyet sa pamamagitan ng pagsesentro ng bilyun-bilyong pondo sa kamay ng Pangulo. Pero sa halip na luminis, posibleng maglangis pa ang kamay ng Pangulo dahil papalakihin ang pork barrel sa tabing ng COVID-19 response,” she said.

Elago explained her no vote, saying that she cannot trust the Duterte government from having extra powers.

“We cannot entrust this regime with overly broad and vague emergency powers that are prone to more abuse and misuse. What the people need now are emergency actions, not emergency powers,” she said.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Eufemia Cullamat also thinks that Duterte may abuse his powers.

“Sa kalagitnaan ng krisis pangkalusugan, hindi solusyon ang paghingi ng dagdag na kapangyarihan upang tugunan ang COVID-19,” she said.

“Serbisyong medikal, hindi aksyong militar. Check-up, hindi check point. Ayudang sosyo-ekonomiko, ngayon na,” she added.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said that he expressed his opposition against it because the President didn’t present any plan on how they’re going to handle the crisis to use the budget intended to address COVID-19.

“Ano ang mga detalyeng magbibigay na matibay na dahilan sa hinihingi ng Pangulo na pagpapalawak ng kanyang kapangyarihan. Nakakatakot na bigyan ng napakalaking kapangyarihan ang Pangulo na di malinaw kung paano ito gagamitin,” he said.

ACT Teachers, party-list Rep. France Castro mentioned possible “corruption, human rights violations, and political oppression and persecution of the government critics” on her no vote explanation.

Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman and MAGDALO party-list Rep. Manuel Cabochan III insisted that giving special powers to the President is pointless.

“The grant of additional emergency powers to the President to combat COVID-19 is unnecessary because he has express and inherent powers as Chief Executive which he has been discharging nationwide to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus,” Lagman said.

“By approving this bill, we, the Congress, are effectively passing all the work and conferring all the powers to the President as if making him a lone savior of the crisis we are facing now,” Cabochan stated.

284 lawmakers voted yes to House Bill (HB) No. 6616 on 3rd and final reading on March 24.

President Rodrigo Duterte praised the doctors who lost their lives while fighting COVID-19 while in line of duty.

Duterte in a nationally televised address said that he was saddened by the news that some doctors already died because of the virus.

He considered them heroes because of doing their job even if they already know how dangerous it is.

“I am saddened by the news that the virus has claimed the lives of our doctors along the way. Lahat po sila ay bayani,” Duterte said.

“Not only that, talagang bumilib ako, bihira akong sumasaludo ng tao, may mga doktor natin at health workers na nadisgrasya, talagang saludo ako sa inyo, wala na kayo sa mundong ito pero ganoon [kataas ang] pagtingin ko sa inyo,” he added.

Aside from the doctors, the President also expressed his gratitude to the other frontliners including health care workers, nurses, medical technologists, and other health professionals.

“Maraming maraming salamat po, asahan niyo po ang suporta ng inyong gobyerno,” the President.

As of writing, there are already four doctors who sacrificed their lives while helping COVID-19 patients to recover.

The doctor casualties of the coronavirus pandemic are identified as anesthesiologist Gregorio Macasaet III of Manila Doctors Hospital, cardiologist Israel Bactol from the Philippine Heart Center, oncologist Rose Pulido of the San Juan de Dios Hospital and cardiologist Raul Jara of the Philippine Heart Center.

Duterte made the said statements before he signed the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” which gave him more powers to address the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines.

The act includes the “Special Risk Allowance” for health workers.

According to the bill public and private health workers who will get infected by COVID-19 while on duty will be entitled to receive P100,000 from the government, while medical practitioners who lost their lives because of the virus will be given P1-M each.