MANILA, Philippines — A notice will be served to Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to answer a criminal complaint against him for violating quarantine protocols while he was a presumed COVID-19 carrier.
Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said the DOJ would issue the subpoena “likely next week,” along with a copy of the complaint filed on Monday by lawyer Rico Quicho.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the assigned prosecutor “will start the process immediately” and conduct a preliminary investigation to decide whether to charge the senator in court.
Quicho filed the complaint on behalf of the health workers of Makati Medical Center.
He accused Pimentel of violating Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events Act of 2018 and health regulations during the COVID-19 crisis when he accompanied his pregnant wife to Makati Med on March 25 although he was supposed to be on quarantine. INQ