Vico Sotto seeks third term as Pasig mayor

MANILA, Philippines — Saying he wants to finish the reforms he started in Pasig, Mayor Vico Sotto officially filed yesterday his certificate of candidacy (COC) for a third term as the city’s local chief executive in the 2025 midterm elections.

Sotto was accompanied by his parents, television personalities Vic Sotto and Coney Reyes, and hundreds of supporters when he filed his COC at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Pasig yesterday morning.

His running mate, Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr., also filed his COC for reelection.

Speaking to reporters, Sotto said his first term was about putting in place the reforms at the city hall, which he promised when he ran on an anti-corruption platform in 2019 and then institutionalizing these measures during his second term starting in 2022.

“The third term is perhaps what can call the exciting part, so we are really looking forward to the next three years,” he said.

Asked for his key programs should he get reelected, Sotto answered: “Pasigueños already know that, they know our priorities.”

Sotto is expected to run against Cezarah Rowena Discaya, owner of construction firm St. Gerrard Construction and Development Corp., whom he alleged is connected with South Korean company Miru Systems, the winner of the P18-billion automated machines contract that will be used in next year’s polls.

In a social media post, Sotto said Discaya owned St. Timothy Construction Corp., a local partner of Miru Systems.

Discaya is also managing St. Gerrard Charity Foundation, which has been doing charity activities in Pasig.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Discaya’s husband, Curlee, said Sotto’s attacks against them forced them to challenge the incumbent mayor, a statement which the latter branded as hogwash.

“That is very stupid to say,” Sotto said.

He also questioned the Discaya couple’s intentions for Pasig, stressing it is never an excuse for people to run for elective posts just to shield activities that are against the law.

Sotto said the Discayas’ construction firm is known for constructing substandard structures.

“Whether they join politics or not, I will do my job and part of my job is to make sure that the correct