By Jeffrey Damicog
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday (April 1) assured the public that Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has not been singled out for a probe being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Guevarra said he did not give any instructions to the NBI to have Sotto investigated for alleged violations of the quarantine rules set by the national government.
“But pursuant to the President’s instruction, the DOJ has directed the NBI and its regional offices, as well as all field offices of the national prosecution service, to monitor the actions of all LGU (local government) officials and investigate any violation or contravention of guidelines set by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management on Emerging Infectious Diseases), such as on the unhampered flow of essential goods and movement of persons exempted from the lockdown,” Guevarra explained.
“The President reiterated the same order during his address to the nation last Monday night,” he added.
Last Monday (March 30), President Duterte warned local officials that the NBI will pursue them for violating quarantine rules that the government has set.
NBI Deputy Director Ferdinad Lavin already confirmed that Sotto is being investigated for violating Republic Act (RA) No. 11469, the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, for “for disobeying national government policies or directives in imposing quarantines.”
Though he was lauded for the actions he took to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Pasig City, Sotto was previously criticized for allowing tricycles to operate in defiance of the government’s directives under the community quarantine which included the suspension of all public transportation.
Sotto has already suspended tricycle operations as he vowed to follow government measures.
On the other hand, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra explained that offenses committed prior the signing of the law cannot be penalized.
“Penal provisions of any law are not applied retroactively unless the offense is a continuing one and its commission has not been stopped,” he said.
Duterte signed RA 11469 last March 25. The new law granted him special powers to address the threat of COVID-19.
