Mayor Vico Sotto issued a statement regarding the NBI summon letter asking him to explain his alleged violation of the Republic Act 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One-Act.
He said they were surprised when personnel from the National National Bureau of Investigation and handed the summon letter. NBI Spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin confirmed that they had sent Sotto a letter requiring him to appear at their office on April 7.
In an interview with Jeff Canoy of ABS-CBN, the young mayor assured the public that Pasig has complied with the national government’s order from the start. He said he might have given an opinion but insisted they obeyed.
“Siguro nung panahon na issue yung tricycle, around March 18, nagbigay ako ng opinyon ko. Siguro yung pagbibigay ng opinyon, hindi naman illegal yun,” the mayor said.
(Maybe I gave an opinion, a call regarding the tricycle issue around March. But I think giving an opinion is not illegal.)
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) remained firm on banning tricycle as a means of transporting health workers and sick residents in Pasig despite the appeal of Sotto on March 19.
Mayor Vico Sotto to cooperate with NBI
Mayor Vico also pointed out the NBI must have missed that the Bayanihan We Heal as One Act, which he allegedly violated, was implemented on March 24.
“Dun pa lang, kahit sinong abogado makikita na may mali dun sa sulat na binigay sakin,” he said.
(Just by that, any lawyer would see that there’s something wrong with the letter they gave me.)
Nonetheless, he would answer NBI’s letter through his lawyer. He also said he would cooperate for any investigation they will launch as they were not hiding anything.
The 30-year-old mayor assured his constituents that they would continue to focus on helping people to fight the pandemic disease. He said they would not stop doing their jobs despite intrigues and issues thrown at them.
Vico made headlines when the Manila lockdown started amid the fight for COVID-19. Many applauded his fast and hands-on way of serving the Pasigueños. They claimed Vico Sotto raised the standards for mayors and even for higher government officials in doing his job as a public servant.