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MANILA (UPDATE) - The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday issued a subpoena for Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III over his alleged breach of quarantine protocol for showing up at a hospital despite experiencing coronavirus symptoms, Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento told reporters in a text message.

Pimentel is facing a complaint filed by lawyer Rico Quicho, former dean of the University of Makati School of Law, for allegedly violating Republic Act No. 11332 when he accompanied his then pregnant wife at the Makati Medical Center on March 24, despite undergoing testing for coronavirus disease or COVID-19 on March 20.

Pimentel, who admitted to experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, said he was only informed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 while at the hospital and that he immediately left.

• 'RECKLESS': Makati Med chastises Pimentel for entering hospital, violating COVID-19 quarantine protocol

Both the hospital and the Department of Health confirmed there was a breach of quarantine protocols.

Malcontento also disclosed that the preliminary investigation is tentatively scheduled on May 20.

When reached for comment, Pimentel said: "...[M]y lawyers will do what is necessary. I will defer to them."

In a Facebook post earlier Tuesday, Quicho said he received an order from the Department of Justice requiring him to appear within 5 days from the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine with hard copies of his complaint and annexes and to swear to his complaint under oath.

The lockdown is set to end on April 30.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier said the Justice department will immediately schedule a preliminary investigation on the complaint against Pimentel on an appropriate date given the Luzon-wide lockdown.

The DOJ probe is separate from that of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Both Pimentel and Guevarra received strong criticism online – Pimentel for his actions and Guevarra for his statement that the DOJ will temper the rigor of the law with human compassion, when asked for comment regarding Pimentel’s case.

Authorities have arrested thousands of violators of the enhanced community quarantine protocols. Some were warned, others fined but there were also those prosecuted, such as protesters from Sitio San Roque in Quezon City who were arrested for holding a protest action. They have since been released on bail.

• QC residents arrested for violating lockdown post bail through crowdfunding

- with a report from Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News