Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto (Source: Pasig City website)
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Wednesday hit back at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for sending him a notice to explain supposed violations of the law granting extra powers to President Rodrigo Duterte during the Covid-19 emergency.
Sotto had sought an exemption for tricycles from the ban on public transportation, prompting an indirect warning from the president on March 20 to “stand down” and comply with national government directives.
But Sotto argued that Republic Act 11469, or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” rushed by Congress last March 23, was not yet in effect at that time.
They’re asking for an “explanation on the alleged violation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (e.g. continuous tricycle operation)”
We complied with all directives. Hindi po illegal magbigay ng opinyon.
…at alam kaya nila na March 24 naging batas ang Bayanihan Act? https://t.co/PY4LzZDf8y
— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) April 1, 2020
“They’re asking for an ‘explanation on the alleged violation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (e.g. continuous tricycle operation),'” Sotto posted on Twitter, where he has 753,000 followers.
“We complied with all directives. Hindi po illegal magbigay ng opinyon. …at alam kaya nila na March 24 naging batas ang Bayanihan Act?” he added.
On March 20, Duterte reversed an earlier statement giving flexibility to mayors, and said: “I was a mayor myself, in case you have forgotten. But this is an emergency of national proportions, and therefore it is the national government that should call the shots.”
Sotto’s Covid-19 response has earned widespread praise, and one of his ideas, like mobile palengkes or markets, was even copied by Valenzuela City.
@VicoSotto we’re rolling it out na. Thanks for your idea!!! We tweaked it a little lang just to adjust to our terrain na small roads…but the over all concept is the same…thanks for your concept!!! pic.twitter.com/8yodQyFxNO — Rex (@rex_gatchalian) March 28, 2020
(PressONE.ph)