(SPOT.ph) The National Bureau of Investigation announced today, April 1, that it will be investigating Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III over his apparent violation of quarantine protocol under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
“I understand Senator Pimentel is also being investigated,” NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin says in a report by CNN. Lavin noted, however, that he was not yet sure when the senator would be called in as he is still under quarantine.
Pimentel was heavily criticized after he admitted to accompanying his wife Kathryna to Makati Medical Center on March 24, in spite of exhibiting symptoms and awaiting results for his test for COVID-19, administered March 20. He received results stating he was positive while at the hospital with his wife.
Makati Medical Center denounced the senator's apparent breach of quarantine protocol, saying that Pimentel's failure to self-isolate forced the hospital to put health workers in quarantine at a time when frontliners are already overloaded. Pimentel was also confirmed to have visited the S&R Membership Shopping supermarket on March 16.
Although Makati Medical Center has not directly mentioned filing charges against Pimentel, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the NBI can still conduct its own investigation and ask Pimentel to explain his side, added the CNN report.