Former senator Jinggoy Estrada was given warning before police released him following his apprehension over alleged violation of the enhance community quarantine (ECQ) protocols in San Juan City on Sunday.
San Juan Police chief Col. Jaime Santos said the former lawmaker was not charged but only given a “stern warning” by Eastern Police District director Brig. Gen. Johnson Almazan.
On Sunday afternoon, cops brought Estrada to the San Juan City Police Station for his supposed violation of the quarantine protocols and failing to observe social distancing during their relief operations.
Estrada, also a former mayor of the city, was reportedly handing out free fish to residents of Barangay Salapan in San Juan when the cops arrived and brought him to the police station.
“(Estrada was told) that he has to secure a certification of approval from the local government, and that social distancing should be strictly observed,” Santos said in a text message.
The police chief said Estrada was released at around 7:40 p.m.
Janella Ejercito-Estrada, Jinggoy’s daughter, questioned why they were being “singled out” over the issue of permits when there were other non-government organizations (NGOs) and private citizens conducting donations and relief operations in San Juan.
“Alam niyo po, sa dami ng nagdodonate o nagbibigay ng mga relief mula sa mga NGOs at private citizens dito sa San Juan, kami lang po ang hinihingan ng permit,”she said in a text message.
‘NO POLITICS’
Estrada, for his part, claimed that his arrest was just all about politics.
“This is local politics. The current administration of San Juan does not want us to help,” he said.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, however, stressed that Estrada’s arrest was due to his violation of the guidelines and directives set by the government following the imposition of the quarantine.
“The arrest of Mr. Jinggoy Estrada has nothing to do with politics in San Juan but has everything to do with law and order, especially so now that we are collectively fighting this global pandemic,” Zamora said in a statement.
The mayor added that Estrada is not a person authorized outside of his residence, saying that the latter has no authority roaming around the streets.
Zamora explained that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has recently issued a directive requiring those intending to conduct relief operations to secure a certification from the local government units where the activity will be held. (Jhon Casinas)