JV, Jinggoy slam Zamora on relief donations

(UPDATES) FORMER San Juan City mayors and now Sens. JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday slammed Mayor Francis Zamora for an ordinance that penalizes anyone extending aid to residents in evacuation centers if they do not go through the Office of the Mayor.

City Ordinance 26, which set the guidelines on the operation and maintenance of evacuation centers during manmade or natural disasters, states that donations from private and public individuals or non-governmental organizations for victims of calamities should be coursed through the Office of the Mayor «for proper documentation and fair distribution.»

All visitors at the evacuation centers or donors should first secure an «entry permit» from the mayor's office «to ensure the safety of evacuees.»

Violators of the ordinance would be fined P5,000.

Ejercito on Tuesday said the ordinance showed «vindictiveness and a political agenda.»

«It is not acceptable to politicize aid giving to San Juan [residents]. San Juaneños deserve better,» Ejercito added in a statement.

Estrada described it as «ridiculous, unreasonable, nonsensical, preposterous, whimsical and capricious.»

«As a lawmaker, I know that there is no existing law that prohibits [anyone] to help those in need especially in times of emergency,» Estrada said in Filipino and English.

Ejercito said it was «very alarming that the mayor (Zamora) even wanted to control the [distribution of] assistance for our countrymen.»

He said imposing a fine on those who wanted to help «is not fair and is a clear sign of abuse of power.»