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- Several senators also defended the mayor.
- Ho and Sotto were once rumored to be romantically linked to each other.
On April 1, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) summoned Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto for allegedly violating provisions of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
The NBI stated that Sotto may have violated provisions of the Act when he supposedly allowed tricycles to operate in Pasig City despite a ban on public transportation.
Television host and athlete Gretchen Ho, who was once rumored to be romantically linked to the mayor, reacted to the news by first tweeting “It’s really #AprilFoolsDay.”
She also reweeted lawyer Mickey Ingles and Mike Navallo’s statements as to why the NBI is not allowed to investigate Sotto concerning the Bayanihan Act.
Basic criminal law principle: you can’t be charged with a crime that wasn’t a crime defined by law yet when you had committed the act. https://t.co/Y9eLYgmeTq
— Mickey Ingles (@MickeyInglesLaw) April 1, 2020
Sought for comment re: NBI's invitation to Mayor Sotto on the basis of Bayanihan Act, Justice Sec Menardo Guevarra says:
penal provisions of any law are not applied retroactively unless the offense is a continuing one and its commission has not been stopped.
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) April 1, 2020
The alleged offense happened before March 18 and the law that NBI was citing was passed on March 24.
“Wrong move,” Ho wrote in a tweet.
Wrong move.
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) April 1, 2020
She then proceeded to retweet statements about a possible diversion made by the government away from an unknown issue.
Just curious….
Is there something which the public’s attention is being diverted from?
— Gregorio Y. Larrazabal (@GoyoYLarrazabal) April 1, 2020
That move is so stupid on so many levels, even politically. Makes me think it's a diversion.
— Leland Dela Cruz (@lelanddelacruz) April 1, 2020
“Something strange is happening.”
Something strange is happening.
Be vigilant everybody. https://t.co/P0nwFp5L6a— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) April 1, 2020
We’re being triggered.
Be. Vigilant.— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) April 1, 2020
Several politicians also defended Vico Sotto, like his uncle Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senators Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, and Joel Villanueva.
Speculations regarding Ho and Sotto’s supposed romance started after they were spotted watching the SEA Games together.
