MANILA – Vice President Leni Robredo and Pasig City’s Mayor Victor Regis “Vico” Sotto did not commit a violation under the recently passed “Bayanihan to Heal As One Law,” Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said.
“Parang wala naman ako nakikitang violation doon,” Año said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
According to Año, he sees Robredo not committing a violation in pursuing relief operations to support the needy amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Sa tingin ko naman, anybody can provide assistance as long as mayroon kang coordination sa government agency, para wala ka namang tinatapakan,” he added.
On Thursday, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission commissioner Manuelito Luna has called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate Robredo’s fund drive and relief operations as these “compete with” or are “calculated to undermine” the Duterte administration’s efforts.
Robredo’s office, in response, has called Luna’s petition “ridiculous and inappropriate” while the PACC has disown Luna’s petition.
“Anyone who insists that bringing much needed assistance to hospitals, health workers, and poor Filipinos is somehow a ‘competition’ has absolutely no understanding of the gravity of the crisis we are all facing,” Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said.
Año, at the same time, said that Sotto has also not committed a Bayanihan Act violation for seeking to allow the use of tricycles amid the lockdown in Luzon.
Sotto was summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday over the alleged violation of Bayanihan Law.
“Ako naman naniniwala na Mayor Vico can fully explain and defend himself if ever there is a charge against him.”
Sotto earlier reacted to NBI’s move, saying that it was not illegal to give his opinion and that he complied with the directive on a transport ban under the lockdown. He also pointed out that the Bayanihan law was enacted days after the matter was already resolved./PN
