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Tito Sotto: COVID-19 law can't apply retroactively vs. Vico


Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday night defended his nephew Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto after the latter was asked by the National Bureau of Investigation an alleged violation of the country's COVID-19 response law.

The Bayanihan Heal as One Act which gave President Rodrigo Duterte additional powers to fight COVID-19 was enacted on March 24.

Vico tangled with national authorities about the ban on tricycles on March 19.

"What are they talking about? Laws are never retroactive if detrimental to any accused," Tito said on Twitter.

 

 

"NBI will be well advised to be cautious in their interpretation of the law I principally authored," Tito said.

"Any so-called violation of RA 11469 can't be retroactive," he added.

Senator Francis Pangilinan called on the authorities to withdraw what he called was a threat to file charges against Vico.

Pangilinan, a lawyer, said the penal provisions of the COVID-19 response law could not be applied retroactively against the local chief executive.

"I-atras na ang pananakot na kasuhan si Mayor Vico. Nagtatrabaho siya nang mabuti at naghahanap ng solusyon at paraan para makatulong. Habulin ang mga tunay na pahirap ngayong may epidemya," Pangilinan said.

"Panawagan ko sa mga kapwa lingkod-bayan: Huwag tayong magpagamit sa ibang interes at kapritso -- kapakanan ng taumbayan sana ang pokus natin sa lahat ng oras lalo na ngayong panahon ng peligro. Huwag na ninyong dagdagan ang mga kapalpakan at pagsipsip. Hindi kayo nakakatulong. Umayos kayo," he added. -NB, GMA News

 

-NB, GMA News

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