Told to explain 'violation', Vico Sotto asks for focus on war against COVID-19

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto on Wednesday night asked authorities to focus on the country's campaign against the spread and effects of COVID-19.

Sotto made the remark after members the National Bureau of Investigation sent him a letter asking him to explain his alleged violation of the Bayanihan Heal as One Act.

"We're all doing our best, from the national level to the barangay level, we're all doing our best to mitigate the ill-effects of this COVID-19. So sana mag-focus na lang po tayo lahat sa trabaho, dami pa nating kailangang gawin," Sotto said.

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto says they comply with the directives of the national government and that the focus should be on mitigating the ill effects of #COVID19PH. | via @CorCatibayan pic.twitter.com/q3QW3JCnRU

— GMA News (@gmanews) April 1, 2020

Sotto said he was in a meeting regarding the reorganization of hospital systems in Pasig City amid the COVID-19 threat when the members of the NBI arrived to give him the letter asking him to explain.

"Sayang oras ko. Ang dami-daming kailangang gawin," Sotto said.

Sotto said the city had complied with the directives of the national government amid the implementation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

He indicated he would continue efforts to address the crisis even if he would have to answer the allegation ranged brought against him by the NBI.

"It's extra work, extra hassle, but it won't distract us, tuloy-tuloy po kaming magtatrabaho para sa ikabubuti ng lahat," he said of the need to answer the NBI's letter.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto: It’s extra hassle but it will not distract us. Tuloy-tuloy kami magtatrabaho para sa ikabubuti ng lahat. | via @CorCatibayan pic.twitter.com/cMFstGQPq3

— GMA News (@gmanews) April 1, 2020

The NBI served Sotto an "invitation letter" on Wednesday, asking him to explain his side over an alleged violation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which penalizes local government officials who defy quarantine rules set by the national government.

Sotto said the NBI did not specify an alleged act but maintained he did not violate the law, which was enacted after he vowed to comply with the inclusion of tricycles in the public transportation ban.

He had initially allowed tricycles to ferry frontline workers and emergency patients to hospitals. -NB, GMA News