A former Pasig City Hall employee has filed a disqualification case against Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, accusing him of engaging in vote-buying by distributing school allowances just days before the upcoming elections.
Vic Barral, the complainant, submitted the case before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on May 10, represented by his lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio. According to Topacio, Barral’s complaint centers on the alleged release of PHP 7,500 in school allowances to Pasig City scholars on May 7 — a date that falls within the 10-day period when the release of public funds is prohibited.
During a press conference in Pasig City, Topacio claimed that there is evidence supporting the payout, which he said violates election rules. “There is a 10-day ban on the release of public funds before elections, and this payout clearly falls within that period,” Topacio emphasized.
Mayor Vico Sotto, however, was quick to dismiss the accusations, defending the scholarship program and rejecting claims of political motives.
“Let’s give our youth more credit. The scholars know that this does not come from me. In fact, one of the first things we did in 2019 was to remove political conditions tied to the scholarship program. No more attendance requirements for parades, no more programs named after politicians,” Sotto clarified.
The case against Sotto is now with the Comelec for review, while the mayor maintains that the scholarship program is free from any political manipulation.
