Ex-Senator Jinggoy Estrada Arrested for Quarantine Violations in San Juan
The former senator was distributing relief goods when he was arrested.
by Justine Punzalan
May 3, 2020
Photo/s: Jinggoy Estrada / Screenshot from Rhomel Cisneros Pinca on Facebook
Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada was arrested for violating quarantine protocols in San Juan, Sunday, May 3.
Estrada and his camp were going around San Juan, a city where he was mayor from 1992 to 2001, for their relief operations but had no authorization, according to current San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora.
Zamora added that Estrada did not only fail to coordinate with the local government before carrying out operations in the community, he also did not have a quarantine pass.
In a video uploaded on Facebook by the former senator's staff, Estrada can be seen distributing milkfish (bangus) to residents of Barangay Salapan when San Juan Police Chief Colonel Jaime Santos invited him to the police station.
Estrada was wearing a mask and personal protective equipment during the operation.
In an interview with Philippine Entertainment Portal this evening, Estrada supporter Rhomel Cisneros confirmed that Estrada was arrested for violating social distancing.
"Apparently, iyong evidence na pinakita kay Senator earlier is iyong video footage nung first time siyang namigay ng bangus sa Lt. Artiaga Street, Barangay Corazon de Jesus," Cisneros said.
"In the middle of the distribution, bigla pong dumating ang dalawang police mobile car, kasama na po si Chief of Police. 'Tapos dire-diretso kay Senator, he was being invited.
"'Tapos, kinuha po yung ibang mga boxes na may mga bangus pa, and then ipinasok [ang boxes ng bangus] sa isa sa mga police car nila.
"Sumama naman nang maayos si Senator."
Rushing to the police station were Estrada's father, former President Joseph Estrada, his wife Precy Ejercito, brother Jude Estrada, and daughter Janella Estrada, herself a former vice mayor of San Juan.
Eastern Police District Chief Police Brigadier General Johnson Almazan took charge of discussing with Estrada the allegations made by the San Juan Police against him.
Mayor Zamora had earlier clashed with Estrada over a rolling store that was opened by Janella without the necessary business permit.
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