MMC exec on Koko apology: ‘Hindi ko po mako-control ang damdamin ng lahat ng tao namin’

The apology of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III  won’t necessarily appease the workforce of the Makati Medical Center whom he might have endangered by visiting its premises, Medical Director Dr. Saturnino Javier of MMC said Thursday.

“The apology is there for the full appreciation of the MMC workforce,” Javier said in an interview with Dobol B sa News TV.

“Pero hindi ko po mako-control ang damdamin ng lahat ng tao namin,”  he added.

Javier was referring to the instance where Pimentel said he accompanied his wife Kath to the MMC around 6 to 7 p.m. of Tuesday,  but was informed that he tested positive for COVID-19 by the RITM only around 9 p.m. that same day.

Earlier in the day, Pimentel issued an apology to the medical institution.

“I apologize to MMC for being in their hospital [on] the evening of March 24, 2020 which they deemed to be a breach of their safety/containment protocols,” said Pimentel.

“I never intended to breach any protocol but I realize now that my presence in MMC unnecessarily caused additional anguish and concern to the courageous frontline health workers we all depend on. I was simply there to be with my wife during the birth of our daughter,” he added.

The hospital earlier denounced Pimentel's breach of the infection and containment protocols.

“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,” Javier said.

“As a result, a number of our nurses and doctors may be quarantined which will further deplete the dwindling workforce of the hospital.” 

Disinfected

In the same interview, Javier assured the public that MMC’s delivery room unit has been disinfected and is fully functional.

“Bumalik na po ang full functionality ng unit na iyan, normal na po ang operation,” Javier said.

“Medyo timing rin po kasi noong nangyari wala pong nag-lelabor kaya mabilis na naibalik sa normal ang proseso. — RSJ, GMA News