Jinggoy Estrada denies selling donated goods; San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora says rolling store lacks permit

Former senator Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday denies making profit out of donated goods and that they bought the items sold at their "rolling store."

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the rolling store set up by Estrada’s daughter, Janella, was eventually ordered closed because of the lack of a business permit.

According to Emil Sumangil’s Thursday report on 24 Oras, Jinggoy said the products they are selling at the rolling store were bought directly from vendors at the Agora Market in San Juan.

“Alam niyo mga kababayan, ‘di po donasyon ‘yon, okay? Binibili po namin ‘yon. Pinapakyaw po namin mga karne, manok, isda at tsaka gulay. Kumpleto po ako sa resibo niyan,” Jinggoy said.

“‘Yong 50 percent discount, kami na po nagso-shoulder noong 50 percent so tulong na namin sa taong bayan ‘yon,” he added.

Jinggoy also said the money they received from donations were used to buy relief packages for San Juan residents.

With this, Jinggoy urged Zamora to just focus on managing the COVID-19 situation in the city and allow them to help those who are in need.

“Sana mag-concentrate na lang siya doon sa pataas na pataas na bilang ng mga COVID positive dito sa bayan ng San Juan dahil napakaliit ng lungsod namin eh sa amin pa pinakamalaking bilang,” he said.

Jinggoy added they will continue to operate despite the absence of a permit.

“Nine years din ako naging mayor. Lahat ng tulong ‘pag oras ng krisis eh tinatanggap ko. Walang permit-permit. Ibig ba sabihin, ilegal ba tumulong?,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zamora said if the Estradas continue to operate without a permit, the city government will be forced to close it down anew.

“Kung hahayaan natin sila, gagaya lahat ng tao e di lahat ‘di na lang kukuha ng permit. Para saan pa ang batas?” Zamora said.

He added he has nothing against the Estradas for helping, but asked them to get a permit to make their operations legal.

“Nagtatrabaho lang ako. Ayaw kong mamulitika sapagkat napakarami ko hong kailangang gawin para talunin ang COVID-19 para sa lungsod ng San Juan,” he said.

“Kung gusto nila mag-setup ng rolling store, mag-apply sila ng permit. Dumaan sila sa legal na proseso,” he added. -- Ma. Angelica Estrada/BAP, GMA News