Año justifies arrest of former senator Estrada in San Juan

May 4, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday justified the arrest of former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, saying he should coordinated with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) if he is not in good terms with the local government of San Juan City.

During the Laging Handa briefing, Año said Estrada violated some ECQ ( Enhanced Community Quarantine) guidelines and reminded him that under the Interagency Task Force (IATF) guidelines, those who want to conduct relief operations should get authorization.

“Meaning to say, it should be coordinated with the local government units (LGUs) and they must have certification because LGU should lead in that kind of operations so  they will know who were able to receive and who were not,” he said.

Año said Estrada violated the guidelines since he is not authorized to go out of his house and those who are distributing fish to residents do not have quarantine passes.

Physical distancing was not observed, and even senior citizen and minors, who are not allowed to go out under ECQ, were seen outside their houses; and the fishes were not properly being distributed to the residents.

“We understand that (former) Senator Estrada wants to help but it should be on legal ways and policy of ECQ guidelines so he should have coordinated with the LGU,” he said.

“If he is not in good terms with LGU, the OCD is there. Give them the relief goods you want to be distributed, let the OCD do its job,” Año said.

He also cited the “rolling store market” conducted by the Estrada family that was  stopped by the City of San Juan  for also violating ECQ.

“The vendors from Agora market complained that the rolling store were selling items half the price… first it does not have a business permit, second it will be an unfair competition for those legal vendors,” he said.

Año reminded those who want to conduct distribution that they must seek a certification from the LGU first as it is part of the IATF guidelines being implemented following reports that some groups pretend to be distributing goods but only planning to conduct rallies or do business.

“We understand (former) Senator Jinggoy but he should do it in a legal and proper way,” he said.

Estrada was arrested Sunday afternoon for violating the ECQ but was released by evening after he was warned by the Eastern Police District. Ella Dionisio/DMS