Pimentel denies 'VIP treatment' on wife's confinement for birthing
Published Mar 25, 2020 12:00 am
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III has denied getting "VIP treatment" from Health Secretary Francisco Duque III regarding his condition as a COVID-19 patient and his wife’s confinement in a private hospital for the scheduled birthing of their child.
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III (Rio Leonelle Deluvio / MANILA BULLETIN)
Pimentel bared on Wednesday that he tested positive for COVID-19, saying he was informed about it by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) Tuesday night.
Online social media posts alleged that he called the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary when a private hospital reportedly refused to accept him and his pregnant wife, Kathryna Yu-Pimentel, who was scheduled to give birth on Wednesday.
Duque, according to the claims, reportedly scolded the hospital officials.
But the senator said he and Duque only talked on Wednesday morning (March 25) and "he just asked me my situation."
Pimentel also clarified that Kathryna checked into the hospital between 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
"Hence, Sec. Duque had nothing to do with our getting a room at the hospital. The good was informed of my situation apparently by my sister," he said.
Pimentel also belied claims that he was "touring" around the hospital despite knowing that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He said that he immediately left the hospital when he received a call from the RITM at around 9 p.m. last Tuesday.
"I told the OB (attending obstetrician) even before I told my wife. Then I left her in the hospital. I never went inside the delivery room," he said in a separate message.
"I had to walk out of the hospital. Walking out po yon (That's walking out), not touring," he emphasized.
In a separate statement, Kathryna said she was saddened over the allegations hurled against them on social media.
"I feel really sad they are insisting I was in the Sen. Koko never reached inside the . I took the stress test for the baby inside the examination room. I even asked the nurse anong tawag sa room na pinagdalhan sa akin (“what they call the room to which I was brought in”). The examination room is beside their recovery room which was still far from the . And Sen. Koko didn't join me sa (in the) examination room last night, too," she said in a text message to GMA News' Arnold Clavio, which was sent to Senate reporters.
Kathryna said she was in the examination room at around 8:30 p.m. and "was alone" at the time since they were told that "husbands or guardians are not allowed".
She said people can check the closed circuit television footages of the hospital to verify their statements.
Pimentel said Kathryna is "all alone" in the hospital and has been placed under isolation. The baby’s delivery was also put on hold.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, he appealed for prayers for his wife, who is eight months pregnant with their daughter.
"I need prayers for her kasi (because) number one: she’s about to give birth. And siyempre (of course) being the wife of a COVID-positive, she’s under isolation, so kawawang-kawawa, I mean, imagine, eight plus months pregnant and under isolation pa (and she's under isolation)," he said.
"I hope that the doctors will be able to solve her situation, give her some comfort and assurances that they will take of her. Ayaw lang natin yung feeling na discriminated against, ako naman 'yong positive, 'di naman siya (We don't want her to feel she is being discriminated against, I’m the one who’s positive, not her). Please take of her," he appealed.
Pimentel said he has isolated himself upon his doctor's advice and the DOH's protocols.
Read more: Senator Koko tests positive for COVID-19
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III (Rio Leonelle Deluvio / MANILA BULLETIN)
Pimentel bared on Wednesday that he tested positive for COVID-19, saying he was informed about it by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) Tuesday night.
Online social media posts alleged that he called the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary when a private hospital reportedly refused to accept him and his pregnant wife, Kathryna Yu-Pimentel, who was scheduled to give birth on Wednesday.
Duque, according to the claims, reportedly scolded the hospital officials.
But the senator said he and Duque only talked on Wednesday morning (March 25) and "he just asked me my situation."
Pimentel also clarified that Kathryna checked into the hospital between 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
"Hence, Sec. Duque had nothing to do with our getting a room at the hospital. The good was informed of my situation apparently by my sister," he said.
Pimentel also belied claims that he was "touring" around the hospital despite knowing that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He said that he immediately left the hospital when he received a call from the RITM at around 9 p.m. last Tuesday.
"I told the OB (attending obstetrician) even before I told my wife. Then I left her in the hospital. I never went inside the delivery room," he said in a separate message.
"I had to walk out of the hospital. Walking out po yon (That's walking out), not touring," he emphasized.
In a separate statement, Kathryna said she was saddened over the allegations hurled against them on social media.
"I feel really sad they are insisting I was in the Sen. Koko never reached inside the . I took the stress test for the baby inside the examination room. I even asked the nurse anong tawag sa room na pinagdalhan sa akin (“what they call the room to which I was brought in”). The examination room is beside their recovery room which was still far from the . And Sen. Koko didn't join me sa (in the) examination room last night, too," she said in a text message to GMA News' Arnold Clavio, which was sent to Senate reporters.
Kathryna said she was in the examination room at around 8:30 p.m. and "was alone" at the time since they were told that "husbands or guardians are not allowed".
She said people can check the closed circuit television footages of the hospital to verify their statements.
Pimentel said Kathryna is "all alone" in the hospital and has been placed under isolation. The baby’s delivery was also put on hold.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, he appealed for prayers for his wife, who is eight months pregnant with their daughter.
"I need prayers for her kasi (because) number one: she’s about to give birth. And siyempre (of course) being the wife of a COVID-positive, she’s under isolation, so kawawang-kawawa, I mean, imagine, eight plus months pregnant and under isolation pa (and she's under isolation)," he said.
"I hope that the doctors will be able to solve her situation, give her some comfort and assurances that they will take of her. Ayaw lang natin yung feeling na discriminated against, ako naman 'yong positive, 'di naman siya (We don't want her to feel she is being discriminated against, I’m the one who’s positive, not her). Please take of her," he appealed.
Pimentel said he has isolated himself upon his doctor's advice and the DOH's protocols.
Read more: Senator Koko tests positive for COVID-19