Image courtesy of FB: Senator Koko Pimentel
Source: www.rappler.com
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday, April 14, issued a subpoena to Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III over a complaint for violation of the notifiable diseases law when he breached the government's quarantine protocols.
"Subpoena to Sen Koko and complainant released today," Prosecutor General Ben Malcontento told reporters Tuesday.
Malcontento said the preliminary hearing is tentatively set for May 20, assuming that the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) had been lifted by then. The lockdown, which was supposed to end on April 12, was extended to April 30.
Commenting on the DOJ subpoena, Pimentel said: "My lawyers will do what is necessary. I will defer to them."
Rico Quicho, former law dean of the University of Makati, and the one who filed the complaint, said he has been ordered by the DOJ to personally appear before prosecutors to swear on his complaint under oath.
"Just received an Order from the DOJ to appear within 5 days from lifting of ECQ and to file hard copy of Complaint vs Koko Pimentel together with Annexes and to swear under oath," Quicho said in a Facebook post.
Quicho had sued Pimentel for violation of Republic Act No. 11332, also known as the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases Act, which punishes under Section 9(e) the non-cooperation of "person or entities identified as having the notifiable disease." (READ: Ex-law dean offers help in suing Pimentel for quarantine breach)
Pimentel had flu symptoms on March 14 and was tested for coronavirus on March 20. As such, he should have been under quarantine until March 28.
But on March 25, the senator went to the Makati Medical Center with his wife Kathryna – who was due to deliver their child.
The Makati Medical Center had slammed Pimentel's actions as irresponsible and reckless. The hospital also had to disinfect the ward visited by Pimentel, further affecting already limited hospital resources.
The DOJ investigation is separate from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe into Pimentel.
The DOJ was earlier criticized for refusing to act on Pimentel's breach, saying it needed a complaint to be filed first.
The DOJ, or the NBI, can do investigations on its own initiative. – With a report from Aika Rey/Rappler.com
Let’s see if may kikilingan at kahihinatnat ang kasong to! Filipinos open your eyes widely please!
ReplyDeletePag di kinasuhan, bias. Pag kinasuhan, papalusutin pa din sa isip niyo. Enebetelege pilipinas!
Delete1:04 strong naman ng argument mo teh
DeleteParang di mo binasa yung buong article 1:04. Sablay comment halatang di marunong mag isip
DeleteAnon 1:04 don't be an ignoramus!
DeleteEh ikaw 1:42? Bibo ka na niyan pag nagsalita ka against the govt? Ginawa na gusto ng karamihan rereklamo pa din. Strong talaga argument ko. Ikaw strong logic mo?
DeleteNot 1:42..@10:14 hindi nman nag reklamo kasi c 12:48, sabi lng nya is to open our eyes if ano mangyayari tpos sagot mo agad eh gnun so ikaw un nagrereklamo s sagot ni 12:48..hindi nman tlga OK argument mo hindi mo p mtanggap. Hindi gnawa yan dhil gusto ng karamihan, DAPAT GAWIN YAN DHIL MAY NILABAG SYA N BATAS...gets mo n ghorl?!??
Delete1:04 Enhance your comprehension dear. Suskupo.
DeleteKung na flatten ang curve im sure di na siya ipapatawag sa DOJ and end na ng quarantine. God is all knowing
ReplyDeleteOh hello DOJ! Nag eexist ka pala 😂
ReplyDeleteOo buhay na buhay pa ang DOJ. Ikw lng ata ang d nakakaalam.
DeleteDOJ be fair. Dapat masampolan itong si Koko. Daming pinerwisyo.
ReplyDeleteJust bcoz public won't stop pero wala din naman patutunguhan ito. Bet?
ReplyDeleteAgree. This is just for show 🙄
DeleteKapag ito nasulutan pa ewan ko na Lang.
ReplyDeleteAlisin sa puwesto dapat. Not fit to be one of the people in position of power
ReplyDeleteIf this person has any sense of decency and honor at all, he would step down from his position. But noooo, aattend pa yan ng hearing and will have lawyers at his disposal to defend him. Kakapal talaga ng mukha ng politiko dito sa Pinas!
DeleteSlap on the wrist and off he go again.
ReplyDeleteIsa nanamang paglilitis na Walang patutunguhan Ang mangyayari dito 🙄
ReplyDeleteNaku, may mangyari sana sa kasong ito. Kapal din talaga ng mukha eh. Di na lang magresign. ( At harapin yung kaso niya of course)
ReplyDeleteAt least sinubpoena naman kesa totally exempted. Abangan ang hatol (kung meron man)
ReplyDeletehatol hatol-an kuno.. masabi lang may ginawa DOJ. After this pandemic hello to the world na naman yan na parang wala lang yun ginawa nya..
DeleteParang paconsuelo lng sa tin ang subpoena n ito. Pra daw tumigal s kakasita s kanila since wla daw ginagawa s ginawa ni koko. Lets see n lng tlga kung itutuloy ang kaso or just unnecessary mahabang session tpos bagsak is wla lng.
DeleteThis better not be a sham trial.
ReplyDeleteAcheche! Nge! I bet they will be lenient on this one. Kaalyado eh.
ReplyDeleteFilipinos should be called negative people of the Philippines. Di pinatawag, dami kuda. Pinatawag, dami kuda. Grabe ang pinoy!
ReplyDeleteEven if later na ang date of appearance, kung sinubpoena ng mas maaga, wala na sanang kuda.
DeletePinatawag din anong mangyayari? Maraming nagsasabi n baka palabas lng to just for the sake n masabi n may ginawa sila. Ang gusto nmin is to really push this case and pagbayarin s maling ginawa ni koko, lalong lalo n s mga tga MMC.
Deleteif he doesn’t receive a heavy punishment, ewan ko na lang sa gobyerno. Be fair naman sana. baka you will let hin off easily lang. Kung pwede lang makulong na lang sya para di na makita ang pagmumukha nya
ReplyDeletebaka nman blue ribbon commitee pa bagsak nito??? e panay si gordon lang ang nagsasalita dun and from what i read, it sounds like gordon will be lenient sa kanya
ReplyDeleteSana naman may kahihinatnan itong subpoena nya...
ReplyDeleteMakakapagbail naman yang si Koko e. 50thousand lang naman e barya lang sa kanya yun. Di makakatikim maghimas ng rehas sa kulungan yan, takot lang nyan. 🤣
ReplyDeletePg walang aksiyon, sabihin inutil. Pg may aksiyon nman, sabihin wala ding mngyayari. So ano pala dapat?
ReplyDeletemabilis mkalimot pinoy. Sasayaw lang ng budots yan patatawarin na nila. Tapos magrereklamo sa gobyerno basura binoto nyo basura din kainin nyo
ReplyDeleteAno nga ulit yung sinabi ni pres. duterte sa mga lumalabag sa quarantine??? Ano nga ulit???
ReplyDelete