IRONY: Compassion for the ‘reckless’ Koko Pimentel, subpoena letter for Vico Sotto
Last March 26, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the bill granting him special powers to address COVID-19 health crisis. Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (RA 11469) placed the country under a state of emergency effective for three months unless extended. Apparently, a week after its implementation, the National Bureau of Investigation asked Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto to explain a possible violation of the said law. FYI, the law that grants President Duterte sweeping powers to implement measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among those powers is to make sure that local government units follow national government guidelines on the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
In a message to Philstar.com, NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said: “NBI did, for violation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.”
He, then, explained that the letter was for “LGU officials for disobeying the national government policies in imposing quarantines.”
Lavin added that Sotto is asked to come to the NBI office on April 7 at 10 a.m.
The said subpoena letter came after Vico ‘allegedly’ allowed the limited operation of tricycles in his city to ferry health workers and patients with immediate medical needs to hospitals amid the Luzon lockdown.
Well, we are disappointed but not surprised.
On the other hand, just last week, Senator Koko Pimentel made news after breach of protocols at the Makati Medical Center. He clearly violated the home quarantine protocol and unduly exposing hospital staff to possible infection after accompanying his pregnant wife to a medical facility.
However, unlike Vico, the Senator wasn’t summoned to explain and face his clear violation of the quarantine protocols.
It’s a life-long April Fool’s season for Filipinos, I guess.