DILG chief Año justifies Jinggoy’s arrest, cites violations of former senator

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday justified the arrest of former Senator Jinggoy Estrada over the weekend for alleged violations of the enhanced community quarantine guidelines in San Juan City.

At the Laging Handa press briefing, Año cited the supposed violations of the former senator when he was distributing fish to residents of Barangay Salapan on Sunday afternoon.

Año underscored that Estrada's relief operation should be coordinated with the local government of San Juan City.

"'Yung sa pagkakaaresto kay former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, unang-una wala siyang official coordination sa city government... pangalawa, 'yung mga nagdi-distribute wala rin silang quarantine pass, they are not authorized persons outside residence so violation na naman 'yun," Año said.

"Pagkatapos, nakita ko sa video may mga pagsuway sa physical distancing at pang-apat pati seniors at mga minors ay lumabas din ng bahay, another pagsuway na naman 'yun," he added.

Estrada had been released by the San Juan City Police after being brought to the police station. He maintained that he did not violate any health and safety protocols while doing relief operations.

Año said the government understands the good intention of Estrada to extend assistance to San Juan City residents, however, he said his way of help should always be legal.

"Dapat ay iayon ito sa legal na pamamaraan at sa panuntunan ng ECQ guidelines," he said.

He further said if Estrada is not in good terms with the leadership of the San Juan City government, he could have asked for assistance from other agencies such as the Office of Civil Defense.

"Kung kaaway naman niya 'yung LGU, nandiyan naman 'yung OCD, ibigay mo 'yung gusto mong ipamigay doon and let OCD to do its job, may mga ahensya sa ilalim niyan," Año said.

Malacañang deferred to the Philippine National Police on the matter.

"We leave it at that," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

Roque reminded donors to coordinate their activities with the local government units.

"Doon sa pagibigay ng ayuda sa ating mga kababayan ay kinakailangan naman po magkaroon ng safeguards nang hindi po magkumpul-kumpulan at dagsain kayo ng mga taumbayan. Kinakailangan magkaroon ng mga hakbang para masigurado ang social distancing habang namimigay ng ayuda," he said.

He also echoed the call of President Rodrigo Duterte for everyone to set aside politics in light of the COVID-19 crisis.

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

Estrada has claimed that local politics was the reason why he was arrested by the policemen.

However, Zamora insisted that Estrada's arrest had nothing to do with politics, noting that it was only about "law and order." — with Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News