Duque denies calling Makati Med to intervene for Koko, wife

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III denied on Thursday rumors circulating on social media that he allegedly called the Makati Medical Center (MMC) to intervene on behalf of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and his wife who was due to give birth.

“Sa kumakalat na balita tungkol sa pagtawag ng inyong lingkod sa MMC upang bigyang pabor ng sinuman, ito po ay walang katotohanan,” Duque said at a virtual press briefing.

“Hindi po ako tumawag sa MMC para po makiusap na kanilang tanggapin ang asawa ni Senator Koko Pimentel.”

A post that made rounds online alleged that Pimentel sought the assistance of Duque after he and his wife Kathryna were denied a room at the MMC because the hospital was already at full capacity.

“The Secretary of Health categorically denies allegations of any intervention on behalf of certain individuals to coerce the MMC to act contrary to its policies,” the Department of Health said in a statement earlier on Thursday.

Pimentel came under fire for accompanying his pregnant wife to the MMC despite being a person under investigation for possible COVID-19 infection. Prior to the hospital visit, he underwent a swab test for the disease.

His test results came back positive while he was at the MMC.

The hospital denounced the “reckless” actions of the senator in a statement on Wednesday.

Duque likewise acknowledged Pimentel’s hospital visit as a breach of quarantine protocols.

“Kami po ay sumasangayon na nagkaroon ng breach sa quarantine protocol at na hindi dapat nangyari ito… Ganap tayong makikipagtulungan sa mga aksyon na tatahakin ng mga [lead] agencies,” he said, referring to departments enforcing peace and order.

The health chief also belied claims of “VIP treatment” for high-ranking officials after netizens slammed asymptomatic politicians who were tested for COVID-19 despite the limited number of test kits in the country.

“Atin pong pinapaalala sa mga laboratoryo na sundin ang ‘first-in, first-out’ policy sa pagproseso ng mga specimen. Binibilisan din po natin ang expansion ng ating testing centers upang matugunan ang backlog,” he said.

The Philippines’ COVID-19 cases breached 700 on Thursday afternoon. The disease has so far claimed 45 lives in the country. -NB, GMA News