BY JEFFREY DAMICOG
*
THE Department of Justice (DoJ) was forced to postpone its June 18 preliminary investigation into the complaint filed against Sen. Aquilino Martin “Koko” Pimentel III for alleged violation of quarantine protocols.
Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento on Tuesday, June 16, explained the complainant in the case, former University of Makati law school dean Rico Quicho, has yet to submit hard copies of the complaint and pieces of evidence which are required under the procedures.
“We ordered the complainant to comply with procedural requirements, such as submission of original complaints and attachments,” Malcontento disclosed.
Malcontento noted Quicho only sent an e-mail of the complaint and its attachments including the pieces of evidence on April 6 because of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that was imposed over Metro Manila due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The prosecutor general said Assistant State Prosecutor Wendell Bendoval, who has been assigned to conduct the preliminary investigation, already sent last week the notice which asked Quicho to comply with the requirements.
He added the complainant has 10 days to comply upon receiving the order.
“If he fails, submitted for decision agad (the case is submitted for decision). The prosecutor can decide based on what is available,” Malcontento warned.
Also, the prosecutor general said Pimentel will no longer be asked to submit the required counter-affidavit to answer the allegations.
“Kung hindi s’ya magcomply, no need to counter, kasi entitled ang respondent to get all evidence against him,” Malcontento explained.
In his complaint, Quicho, the former spokesman of former Vice President Jejomar Binay and late Chief Justice Renato Corona, said Pimentel should be held liable for violating Republic Act No. 11332, the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, and its implementing rules and other Department of Health (DoH) protocols.
The case concerns the March 24 visit of Pimentel who accompanied his then pregnant wife, Kathryna, to the Makati Medical Center (MMC).
MMC had denounced the lawmaker’s actions since he was supposed to be under self-quarantine at that time when he was considered a person under monitoring (PUM).
After his visit, Pimentel confirmed he tested positive for COVID-19.
