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Dismissed rap vs Koko can still be appealed – DoJ

Philippines | National

Dismissed rap vs Koko can still be appealed – DoJ

By Jeffrey Damicog

The dismissed complaint against Sen. Aquilino Martin “Koko” Pimentel III over alleged violations of quarantine rules may still be appealed, Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra assured Friday.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN) — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)

“The resolution of the investigating prosecutor in the case of Sen. Koko Pimentel may be the subject of an appeal to the Office of the Secretary,” the Justice Secretary said.

Guevarra explained the complaint can file “via a petition for review with the Office of the Secretary of Justice under the rules of the National Prosecution Service on appeals.”

Guevarra assured the public that “the DoJ is committed to administer our criminal justice system as fairly and equitably as possible.”

Guevarra made the statement after the DoJ Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG) announced Thursday that the complaint filed by former University of Makati law dean Rico Quicho against Pimentel has been dismissed “for lack of probable cause.”

Quicho has called the DoJ as the “Department of Injustice” for giving Pimentel “free pass” to commit quarantine violations while thousands of Filipinos get arrested and charged for such infractions.

In his complaint, Quicho accused Pimentel of violating Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of the Public Health Concern for visiting the Makati Medical Center (MMC) last March 24 even though the senator was suspected of having the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and was supposed to be on self-quarantine.

The OPG previously explained in a statement that “Sen. Koko Pimentel is not a public health authority (i.e. he is not the DoH (Department of Health), the RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine), the Epidemiology Bureau, therefore, not obliged to report under RA No. 11332.”

“The mandatory reporting under R.A. No. 11332 was meant for public health authorities only,” it stated.

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