Koko on DOJ probe over his alleged quarantine breach: 'Follow evidence'

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the Justice department should follow the evidence in the reopening its probe into his supposed violation of quarantine protocols.

Citing National Bureau of Investigation's new submission, which includes a report from the Makati Medical Center (MMC), Assistant State Prosecutor Wendell Bendoval announced on September 10 the reopening of the probe. 

The case was initially submitted for resolution last July 26.

“Nasagot ko na po iyan, submitted for resolution, hintayin na lang po natin an DOJ (Department of Justice),” Pimentel said.

“Follow the evidence. If there is no evidence, there is nothing to follow,” Pimentel added.

Pimentel's case stemmed from the complaint filed by lawyer Rico Quicho who accused the Senator of violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

This was after Pimentel accompanied his then pregnant wife Kathryna to the MMC on March 25, while waiting for his COVID-19 test result at the time.

Pimentel learned on the same day that he tested positive for COVID-19. The information sent hospital staff members scrambling to disinfect the areas that he  had gone into, at a time when COVID-19 transmission was its peak the country.

In his counter affidavit, Pimentel says that he did not violate the law since he was not a person under investigation for COVID-19, but a VIP that got tested for COVID-19. —LBG, GMA News