MANILA, Philippines — The management of membership shopping chain S&R confirmed on Thursday that Senator Koko Pimentel, who has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was at its Bonifacio Global City branch on March 16 as earlier claimed by a post that has been circulating on social media.
S&R said it immediately reviewed footages of the store’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera and validated the transaction with front-end personnel upon learning of the social media post.
“It was confirmed that the senator was at the S&R BGC on March 16, 2020. CCTV footage showed him checking out at counter 13 at exactly 1:59,” the management of the shopping center said in a statement.
Pimentel began experiencing symptoms of the disease on March 14 and got tested on March 20.
According to the S&R, its employees who have come in direct contact with the senator were placed on quarantine and that S&R BGC has conducted disinfection.
It added that employees who have come in direct contact with the senator were already placed on quarantine and that S&R BGC had already conducted disinfection of the establishment.
“We would like to assure S&R members that we are taking measures to maintain the safety of our members. We disinfect our stores daily and ascertain that our staff are clear prior to work,” it said, adding that shopping carts, front-end belts, items being sold, and registers are kept clean on a daily basis.
Before this confirmation, Pimentel drew flak after taking his pregnant wife who was due for cesarean operation at the Makati Medical Center (MMC) on Tuesday night, the same night that he learned of his test result for COVID-19.
But Pimentel noted that he only knew of the diagnosis when he was already at the hospital. He said he immediately left the facility after learning the had contracted the disease.
MMC has issued a strongly-worded statement against the senator, calling his actions “irresponsible and reckless” as he breached the strict infection and containment protocols of the hospitals’ delivery room complex.
READ: Makati Med hits COVID-19-positive Pimentel for ‘irresponsible, reckless’ actions