Quarantine rule violation: DOJ to apply law ‘fairly and uniformly’ to Pimentel case

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) assured on Monday that it would apply the law “fairly and uniformly” in dealing with the complaint filed by a lawyer against Senator Aquilino Pimentel III for his alleged violation of quarantine protocols.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the DOJ has been waiting for the filing of a complaint against Pimentel, who allegedly breached his quarantine procedures before receiving his positive diagnosis for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“We assure everyone that the justice department will apply the law fairly and uniformly, regardless of the status of the respondent, with due respect at all times to the rights of the respondent,” Guevarra said in a Viber message to reporters.

The Justice Secretary said that now that the complaint has been filed, the DOJ will “immediately” schedule the preliminary investigation “on such date as may be appropriate,” considering the prevailing enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

“This investigation is without prejudice to the separate probe that the National Bureau of Investigation has commenced,” he said.

READ: NBI to probe Koko Pimentel for breaching quarantine protocols

The complaint against Pimentel was filed on Monday by lawyer Rico Quicho, detailing the senator’s “direct violation” of the Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and its implementing rules, as well as other self-quarantine regulations set by the Department of Health.

READ: Lawyer files complaint vs Pimentel for breaching quarantine

To recall, Pimentel, along with other senators, placed himself under self-quarantine after a resource person at a Senate hearing on March 5 tested positive for the coronavirus disease. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also later tested positive for the illness, as well as Senator Sonny Angara.

But instead of adhering to quarantine protocols, Pimentel went to the Makati Medical Center on March 24 to accompany his then pregnant wife, who was at the time due for delivery of their first baby. Pimentel said that he only learned of the positive diagnosis for COVID-19 when he was already at the hospital and that he immediately left after learning he had contracted the virus.