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- He said that he was there to accompany his wife who was scheduled to give birth.
- Netizens, celebrities, and health workers expressed their frustration.
On March 25, Senator Koko Pimentel was revealed to be the second senator to test positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after Senator Miguel Zubiri.
Shortly after the news broke out, he was heavily criticized by netizens after he admitted to accompanying his wife to the hospital on the night of March 24 despite being an asymptomatic person under investigation (PUI).
The Makati Medical Center (MMC), where Pimentel’s wife was scheduled to deliver a baby through cesarean section, denounced the “irresponsible and reckless action of the senator“.
“Senator Pimentel violated his Home Quarantine Protocol, entered the premises of MMC-Delivery Room Complex, this, unduly exposed healthcare workers to possible infection,” the hospital’s official statement said.
MMC then had to quarantine nurses and doctors he encountered in spite of the already dwindling workforce in the hospital. The MMC-DR also had to undergo full decontamination and disinfection before it could be used again.
Senator Aquilino Martin Pimentel III breached MakatiMed hospital infection control protocols. pic.twitter.com/uPUVIF25Pb
— Makati Medical Center (@IamMakatiMed) March 25, 2020
Netizens have expressed how horrified they are with the situation that a senator would think it was okay to wander outside of their home in spite of possibly being contagious.
Juan Miguel Severo was one of those who reminded everyone to keep the issue in mind when deciding who to vote for in the 2022 elections.
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1242716094625796097
“Shame on you for putting everyone around you in danger,” a Twitter user named Agatha Wong stated.
Doctors are DYING risking their lives EVERYDAY to fight this health war for US.
And Sen. Koko Pimentel KNEW he had the symptoms yet he pretended to be OBLIVIOUS. SHAME ON YOU FOR PUTTING EVERYONE AROUND YOU IN DANGER. SHAME. ON. YOU.
— Agatha Wong (@AgathaWongy) March 25, 2020
A netizen also noticed that MMC uploaded a photo informing everyone about the Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
Makati Medical Center throws shade against Senator Koko Pimentel.
The law applies to all, including Senator VIPs.#VIPPositive#UseYourKokote pic.twitter.com/qwJFGB84d1
— Jesus Falcis 🇵🇭 (@jesusfalcis) March 25, 2020
They also commended Kapuso journalist and news anchor Jessica Soho for asking controversial questions from Senator Pimentel.
https://twitter.com/johnnydapperdoo/status/1242776162893324289
Vicky Morales’ frustration was also evident when she was interviewing Dr. Bong Javier from MMC.
https://twitter.com/crapinellaaa/status/1242769448794128384
Here are other netizens slamming Pimentel for his violation.
https://twitter.com/jarjariette/status/1242729292196282368
https://twitter.com/pawawawofficial/status/1242694960786227200
So, to recap:
A sitting senator of the Philippines (Koko Pimentel) who TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 escaped his quarantine to accompany his wife to the delivery room of Makati Medical Center – thereby exposing THE ENTIRE OB-GYNE DEPARTMENT to the virus?
ARREST THIS BITCH.
— kate heceta-arellano (@kamharellano) March 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/pieishere/status/1242726796245663744
Dear Koko Pimentel,
If you were asymptomatic, why were you tested? If you were symptomatic, why were you walking around in the hospital with your pregnant wife and not observing home quarantine like the rest of PUIs?
Either sobrang kapal mo or sobrang pasaway.
Could be both.
— Sheng Datukon (@thecatbarked) March 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/_ladymariel/status/1242686864399597568
So PUI Senator Koko Pimentel accompanied his wife to the Delivery Room last night because she was scheduled to give birth this morning. RITM called him that he tested positive for Covid-19. Sorry, he went to the delivery room KNOWING HE COULD HAVE COVID-19?
— Mai (@mymai_d) March 25, 2020
By escaping his quarantine, Senator Koko Pimentel exposed 3 doctors, 3 nurses and possibly the whole hospital unit. In turn, they could have unwittingly infected their patients and family members and the chain of transmission could have went on.
Yes, stupidity kills.
— Emil (@13thFool) March 25, 2020
Just In: Koko Pimintel insists to be confined in Makati Med. However, the said hospital was full.
So tumawag si Koko kay Sec Duque. Ang magaling na Duque *hinarass* ang MMC para bigyan ng room si Koko.
<verified source>
— AltABSCBN (@AltABSCBN) March 25, 2020
Celebrities have also spoken up about the issue. Inquirer columnist Manuel Quezon III quoted MMC’s statement acknowledging the strong language that the hospital used to express their frustration.
Unprecedented strong language in a private sector statement. https://t.co/SCMkJzBVJp
— Manuel L. Quezon III (@mlq3) March 25, 2020
Vance Larena also quoted MMC’s statement with the words “Go to hell Koko Pimentel!”
https://twitter.com/vance_larena/status/1242772936269819905
It seemed like Kapamilya star Enchong Dee is speechless.
Koko Pimentel is …
— Enchong Dee (@enchongdee777) March 25, 2020
Agot Isidro pointed out that the senator is a lawmaker but broke the law himself and was trying to justify it.
Your privilege discriminated other people from taking the test. You knew you were at risk!
Sumusunod kami sa patakaran. Senador ka, kayo ang gumagawa ng mga patakaran.
At magpapaawa ka ngayon?
Wag kami, Koko. Wag ngayon. https://t.co/PK5Wn00CgJ— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) March 25, 2020
Other personalities Tweeted about the issue.
Koko Pimentel's actions have disgraced the Senate, violated the government's own directives, and endangered other people's lives.
Such careless and arrogant behavior is more dangerous than any virus. I join calls for him to apologize and immediately resign.
— Gideon Lasco (@gideonlasco) March 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/kipoebanda/status/1242703223628025856
Medical professionals also called out Pimentel on twitter
https://twitter.com/ayabellsmd/status/1242718766883950592
Sharing the statement from our medical director on the incident involving Senator Koko Pimentel. We denounce what he did. pic.twitter.com/uIMVjkpmKW
— Dr. Gia Sison (@giasison) March 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/raymondnaguit/status/1242758388477378560
Pimentel has asked the public to understand his situation as his wife was about to give birth at that time.
