- #ProtectVico trended on top of twitter Philippines.
Celebrities and netizens immediately flooded social media specifically Twitter with tweets blasting the Duterte government and NBI for summoning Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto for possible violation of the Bayanihan Heal as One Act.
The hashtag #ProtectVico even surged to the top 1 Philippine Twitter trends as support for Vico grew.
Kapamilya actress and philanthropist Angelo Locsin asked why is Vico being summoned when he was just doing his job as opposed to Koko Pimentel who clearly violated his home quarantine.
“Hindi ako nag mamarunong sa batas, pero sa opinyon ko, si Koko ang dapat ipatawag at hindi si Vico.”
Hindi ako nag mamarunong sa batas, pero sa opinyon ko, si Koko ang dapat ipatawag at hindi si Vico
— Angel Locsin (@143redangel) April 1, 2020
Jodi Sta.Maria also questioned NBI’s move asking why Vico is being singled out.
“Si Vico Sotto talaga?! Bakit NBI? Ano meron? Eh yung iba? Nakakapanghina na minsan yung mga desisyon nyo.”
Si Vico Sotto talaga?! Bakit NBI? Ano meron? Eh yung iba?
Nakakapanghina na minsan yung mga desisyon nyo.
— Jodi Sta.Maria (@JodiStaMaria) April 1, 2020
Divine diva Zsa Zsa Padilla meanwhile said it’s unbelievable why the government is going after Vico knowing how busy the Mayor is with his work for his constituents.
“Like, seriously? Is it because he makes everyone else look bad at their supposed job?! Unbelievable. Pwede ba kayong magpaka busy sa ibang bagay?! Busy si Mayor. Tantanan nyo naman sya, please! Dami pa nyang gagawin. #OnlyInThePhils #ProtectVico”
Like, seriously? Is it because he makes everyone else look bad at their supposed job?! Unbelievable. Pwede ba kayong magpaka busy sa ibang bagay?! Busy si Mayor. Tantanan nyo naman sya, please! Dami pa nyang gagawin. #OnlyInThePhils #ProtectVico pic.twitter.com/erOaKIpfHZ
— zsa zsa padilla (@zsazsapadilla) April 1, 2020
Former supporters of the administration have also changed their tune as they criticized the government’s response to the crisis.
Kim Chiu and Angelica Panganiban slammed the admin’s latest stunt against Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto who according to them is known for working very hard to serve his constituents in this trying time.
Like what?????!!!! Yoko na!!!! Ang hirap sa ph govt, pag gumawa ka ng mabuti sa kapwa mas nakakataas ang makakabangga mo, pag gumawa ka ng hindi mabuti kaming mga netizens lang ang kalaban mo at ang nakakataas ay
https://t.co/D3UmQZXy5K
— kim chiu (@prinsesachinita) April 1, 2020
Wala silang mapag initan. Si mayor vico talaga? Kung sino pa may natutulong at maayos na sistema, siya pa kakasuhan? HANEP! Eh nasan na yung nagkalat ng virus sa makati med? So far kasi yun palang nagagawa niya. Ikalat ang virus. Mapapamura ka na lang pala talaga.
— Angelica Panganiban (@angelica_114) April 1, 2020
Other celebrities have also taken their stand and showed support for the embattled Mayor.
Busy po siya. Bakit hindi nalang si Senator Koko Pimentel ang ipatawag ninyo? Or yung isang Mayor, marami daw po kasi naghahanap sakanya. https://t.co/kcNdSvd5Qw
— JANINE (@janinegutierrez) April 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/padillabela/status/1245300602021621760
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1245286839877017600
WE GOTCHU!!! KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING!!!
— Bullet Dumas (@bulletdumas) April 1, 2020
They ougtta summon you to take over as president!
— Pia Magalona ⁷ (@piamagalona) April 1, 2020
Maybe you can just ask for compassion @vicosotto; apparently that works. https://t.co/WAvZPyzofZ
— 范鴻志 RICHARD JUAN 홍준 (@richardjuan) April 1, 2020
Paki-explain daw kasi nagmumukhang tanga, gago at kupal ang national government. https://t.co/5lUwwtbPs2
— johnoy danao (@johnoydanao) April 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/vance_larena/status/1245332430405242888
According to the NBI letter, the Pasig Mayor may have violated the ECQ’s guideline on the ban of public transportation when he allowed tricycles in Pasig to operate and ferry medical front liners and netizens who need medical attention.
However the supposed violation was done on March 17 and Sottom, upon DILG’s instruction to stop the tricycle operation, already stopped on March 19.
The Bayanihan Act was signed into law on March 25, 2020.
No less than Senate President Tito Sotto who is the principal author of the law in the senate 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!
— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) April 1, 2020
Meanwhile asked why Vico was summoned while Sen. Koko Pimentel who endangered others when he broke his quarantine protocol was not, NBI said it was the President’s order to investigate LGU officials.
Asked why the NBI is not investigating coronavirus positive Senator Koko Pimentel for breaching his quarantine, the NBI said the President's orders was to investigate local government officials who are on the ground implementing the enhanced community quarantine. @mjaysoncayabyab
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) April 1, 2020
Here are other tweets and sentiments from netizens who are aghast with the government’s actions against Mayor Vico.
Unahin si Koko, wag si Vico. No apologies with this tweet, nakakagago na eh.
— Dr. Gia Sison (@giasison) April 1, 2020
Let us protect the real public servants in this country from the black propaganda of the Duterte regime.
Show your support for Mayor @VicoSotto by using the hashtag #ProtectVico or #ProtectVicoSotto.
LET'S PUT AN END TO THESE CHARACTER ASSASSINATIONS BY THIS INSECURE REGIME!
https://t.co/glZ64Fo0uI
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) April 1, 2020
In Pasig, Mayor Vico Sotto thought of using tricycles to help people get to hospitals or essential work and gets summoned by the NBI.
In Davao, Mayor Sara Duterte will allow tricycles as well with social distancing measures (see picture). DDS are all praises.
#ProtectVico pic.twitter.com/gQg4bjpou9
— Jesus Falcis
(@jesusfalcis) April 1, 2020
Today, this gov't arrested people whose only crime is to ask for help – and summoned a mayor whose only crime is to make the gov't look bad because of his sensible policies.
Clearly, we have a problem that is more cruel, more vindictive, and just as deadly as COVID-19.
— Gideon Lasco (@gideonlasco) April 1, 2020
Private citizens/sector can only do so much. THIS IS ON YOU, THE GOVERNMENT. You have the funds. You have the means. You were elected to DO YOUR JOB.
And then we have Mayor Vico, who’s actually doing an effective job & you zero in on him coz he’s actually doing a good job.
— Camille Co (@itscamilleco) April 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/ajamesainty/status/1245333717985312769
https://twitter.com/josxadriann/status/1245334869271392256
Probably the FIlipinos afte this pandemic (#COVID19PH) :
Imagine a people power this 2020 with the public singing this song.
DRAG DOWN THIS GOVERNMENT#ProtectVico #ProtectVicoSotto pic.twitter.com/1T36TTxJXh
— remrem ):) (@rmrtjy) April 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/rvinyourarea1/status/1245328893910724612
