omniture

Senate leader says local officials without offenses are under DILG, not DOJ

2020-04-05 16:35

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), not the Justice Department, has jurisdiction over local government officials who did not violate any law.


“If a local official has not violated any law, the DILG is the Department that has jurisdiction over him. Not the DOJ!” Sotto wrote on his Twitter account.


Sotto made the remark in response to the move of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which is under the DOJ, to summon Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto for allegedly violating the provisions of the Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law.


The NBI accused the mayor of disobeying the national government’s order to suspend public transportation during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine when he allowed tricycles to operate in his jurisdiction.


Mayor Sotto earlier stressed that he already lifted his order allowing tricycle operation to ferry medical workers in his city before the Bayanihan law was passed on March 24.
The Senate President, one of the principal proponents of the Bayanihan Act, also said the law cannot be applied retroactively.


“NBI will be well advised to be cautious in their interpretation of the law I principally authored. Any so-called violation of RA 11469 can’t be retroactive!” he said.


“What are they talking about? Laws are never retroactive if detrimental to any accused,” he added.


The elder Sotto is Mayor Vico’s uncle.

Source: https://www.untvweb.com/news/