Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III apologized on Wednesday night to the Makati Medical Center (MMC) for breaching quarantine protocol as he later tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“I’m sorry that this happened. That’s farthest from my mind,” Pimentel said, speaking partly in Filipino, in an interview on CNN Philippines’ “News Night.”
“I am an expectant father. I accompanied my wife ko who was about to give birth,” he added. “And then without any finding, I turned out to be positive.”
The senator’s wife, Kathryna, was scheduled to give birth to their daughter. He later got word from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) that he was positive for the viral disease.
The hospital later slammed Pimentel for his “reckless” and “irresponsible” actions.
READ: Makati Med hits COVID-19-positive Pimentel for ‘irresponsible, reckless’ actions
As of Wednesday, the number of COVID-19 had reached 636, of whom 38 had died and 26 had recovered.
READ: COVID-19 cases in PH soar to 636 with 3 more deaths
Pimentel hopes that he did not infect any hospital personnel while he was at the MMC.
In an earlier interview over radio station DZMM, Dr. Saturnino Javier disclosed that “roughly” six to eight people were subjected to home quarantine after contact tracing was done.
“I hope I did not [infect anyone]. But what Makati Med did was right, and I think they saw my movements in the hospital. I think it was very minimal. I think they also disinfected.”
/atm