Senators have expressed their support on Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto after the National Bureau of Investigation summoned the young leader for his alleged violation of the Bayanihan law.
Senate President and uncle of Vico, Tito Sotto has questioned the NBI’s basis on inviting Vico for a probe. Sotto adds that he was even the author of the law and the NBI cannot use it against Vico.
“NBI will be well advised to be cautious in their interpretation of the law I principally authored. Any so-called violation of RA 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act) can’t be retroactive!,” Sotto said in a tweet.
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
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Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros slammed the move and said that there were more important things that the government should focus on.
“Andaming kailangang bigyan ng solusyon: nagkakasakit na health workers, mga nagugutom. Why hostile attention to well-performing leaders like Vico?” Hontiveros asked.
Andaming kailangang bigyan ng solusyon: nagkakasakit na health workers, mga nagugutom. Why hostile attention to well-performing leaders like Vico?
The Bayanihan Law cannot be applied retroactively, & doesn't suspend the right to dissent or express views.
May na-insecure ba?
— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) April 1, 2020
Liberal Party President Kiko Pangilinan said that the government should stop distracting the public.
“I-atras na ang pananakot na kasuhan si Mayor Vico. Nagtatrabaho siya nang mabuti at naghahanap ng solusyon at paraan para makatulong. Habulin ang mga unay na pahirap ngayong may epidemya,” Pangilinan said.
I-atras na ang pananakot na kasuhan si Mayor Vico. Nagtatrabaho siya nang mabuti at naghahanap ng solusyon at paraan para makatulong. Habulin ang mga tunay na pahirap ngayong may epidemya.
— Kiko Pangilinan (@kikopangilinan) April 1, 2020
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Senator Joel Villanueva said that people should now deal with more urgent tasks at hand.
“Do we really need this notice right now when we want our local government officials to mobilize all the resources they have to respond to their constituents’ needs? We have an urgent task at hand, and distractions such as this doesn’t help,” Villanueva said.
So, our question is do we really need this notice right now when we want our local government officials to mobilize all the resources they have to respond to their constituents’ needs? We have an urgent task at hand, and distractions such as this doesn’t help.
— Joel Villanueva (@senatorjoelv) April 1, 2020
