Representatives of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto appeared before the NBI to respond to allegations of possible infringement of the National Guidelines on Enhanced Community Quarantine.
On the Twitter account of the Justice Correspondent Anjo Alimario, he said that the representatives of Pasig Mayor Sotto had arrived to testify that they had not violated any national guidelines during the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
“BREAKING: Representatives of Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto arrive at NBI to submit his explanation on ‘possible violation of the national guidelines on Enhanced Community Quarantine and Bayanihan to Heal as One Act’ for ‘continuous tricycle operation in the city.’ @cnnphilippines”
BREAKING: Representatives of Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto arrive at NBI to submit his explanation on “possible violation of the national guidelines on Enhanced Community Quarantine and Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” for “continuous tricycle operation in the city.” @cnnphilippines pic.twitter.com/GCiozzTkcO
— Anjo Cagmat Alimario (@anjocalimario) April 7, 2020
In CNN Philippines’ interview with Pasig City Administrator Jeron Manzanero, he said that the city is fully compliant with the government directives. They even sought clarification by writing a letter immediately to NBI about what actions they would like to take to investigate
“Sinasabi po namin na fully compliant po kami sa mga lahat ng direktiba ng national na pamahalaan. Natanggap po namin ‘yung sulat ng NBI ng April 1. The very next day, April 2, sumulat kami sa NBI seeking clarification ng ano po ba ‘yung mga actions na gusto nilang imbestigahan sa Pasig City.”
Manzanero argued that what NBI is doing is purely work-related in ensuring that every Local Government Unit complies with the government guidelines and that Pasig City is willing to cooperate with the NBI.
“Ang ginagawa ng NBI ay sinisigurado na ang lahat ng lokal na pamahalaan sa buong Pilipinas ay nagko-comply sa national na direktiba ng pamahalaan natin. Naiintindihan naman po namin ang ginagawa nilang trabaho kaya willing po kami maki-cooperate sa lahat ng kailangan nila para magawa nila ang tungkulin nila.”
Manzanero: Ang ginagawa ng NBI ay sinisigurado na ang lahat ng lokal na pamahalaan sa buong Pilipinas ay nagko-comply sa national na direktiba ng pamahalaan natin. @cnnphilippines
— Anjo Cagmat Alimario (@anjocalimario) April 7, 2020
President Rodrigo Duterte clarified that he had nothing to do with the pending investigation of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for suspected violations of the ‘Bayanihan to Heal as One Act’.
“Isang beses lang ako nagsalita, nu’ng nag-proclaim ako ng emergency,“Wala akong pakialam sa operation ng NBI. Trabaho ng pulis ‘yan. Wala na akong pakialam,”
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that Mayor Vico Sotto has not committed any violations.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said he sees no infringement committed by the mayor of Pasig City for seeking to make the use of tricycles in the Luzon lockdown.
“Para sa akin, wala naman siyang violation doon dahil noong nalaman niya na hindi pinayagan, hindi naman siya tumuloy. Ako naman naniniwala na Mayor Vico can fully explain and defend himself if ever there is a charge against him,” he said.
Senator Tito Sotto also stated on Twitter that his nephew Vico didn’t violate the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, or the Republic Act 11469.
NBI will be well advised to be cautious in their interpretation of the law I principally authored. Any so called violation of RA 11469 can't be retroactive!
— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) April 1, 2020
On the other hand, it seems that Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has allowed tricycles and taxis to operate despite the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
“If the City Government of Davao will not allow taxis and tricycles to move the general public for basic necessities, we will be caught in an absurd situation.”
See this statement from Sara Duterte. If their LGU won't allow tricycles and taxis to move the public for basic necessities, only those with private vehicles can buy food and other basic necessities. She knows! Vico Sotto knows! LGUs know what to do! Malacanang isn't listening! pic.twitter.com/VGv1xX8JCa
— Jecon Dreisbach (@jecondraysbak) April 6, 2020
