Filtered By: Topstories
News

Jinggoy Estrada released from police station after alleged ECQ violations


Former senator Jinggoy Estrada has been released by the San Juan City Police after being brought to the police station on Sunday afternoon for allegedly violating quarantine protocols.

Speaking to reporters after his release, Estrada maintained that he did not violate social distancing measures and wore protective gear to prevent possible coronavirus transmission.

“I was pretty confident na ‘yung mga tao ko, inutusan nila ‘yung mga tao to observe social distancing,” he said.

San Juan Police earlier brought Estrada to the police station for allegedly violating social distancing measures and improperly handling food while distributing fish to residents of Barangay Salapan. 

Estrada said the incident was driven by local politics and not caused by violations of quarantine protocols.

“This is local politics. The current administration of San Juan does not want us to help,” he said.

Incumbent San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora won the mayoralty against former Vice Mayor Janella Estrada, the former senator’s daughter, ending the Estradas’ decades-long rule over San Juan.

Estrada also said that many groups have conducted relief operations in San Juan without permits from the local government.

“Why are they singling me out? Just because I’m an Estrada? Bawal na ba kami tumulong dito sa San Juan?” he said.

‘Not politically motivated’

Zamora also said that bringing Estrada in was not a politically motivated action.

“Inisyatibo ito ng Philippine National Police sapagkat tayo ay naka-enhanced community quarantine bilang nasa ilalim ng enhanced community quarantine,” he said in an interview on dzBB.

The mayor also said Department of the Interior and Local Government regulations dictate that relief operations must have the necessary permit from the local government.

“Ang kaniyang anak, nagsulat naman sa’kin no’ng April 29, nag-request siya na gusto niya magsagawa ng libreng botika, mamimigay siya ng libreng gamot,” Zamora said.

“Alam niyo, sa loob ng isang araw, binigyan ko agad siya ng certificate. So hindi mahirap na mag-apply ng certification… Kung pulitika yan, bakit yung kaniyang anak binigyan natin ng permit?”

Estrada and Zamora earlier had a feud over a rolling store set up by Janella. 

'Stern warning'

For its part, the PNP's Public Information Office said that no charges were filed against Estrada.

"Binigyan lamang ng stern warning si dating Sen. Jinggoy Estrada na makipag-ugnayan sa LGU kung ito'y mamamahagi ng pagkain at sumunod lang sa panuntunan ng social distancing na ipinapatupad sa ilalim ng ECQ," the PNP-PIO said in a message to the media.

"Walang kaso na isinampa ang PNP laban sa kanya. Wala ring inaresto mula sa mga taong tumanggap ng pagkain." — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT