Vico Sotto tells Comelec concerns regarding rival Discaya

MANILA (UPDATED) -- Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, accompanied by election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, went to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday to hand over his letter detailing his sentiments in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections to Chairman George Garcia.

"Basically iniinform lang namin siya sa mga ibang kaganapan, ibang pangyayari po sa Pasig that may be a matter of national interest also hindi lang po sa amin," Sotto told reporters.

Sotto's letter specifically referred to the filing of Certificate of Candidacy for Mayor of Pasig City of Cezarah Rowena Cruz Discaya, also known as Sarah Discaya, whom the mayor pointed out as an owner and the chief financial officer of St. Gerard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp. 

The incumbent mayor's letter also claims there is “overwhelming evidence that St. Gerrard is an alter-ego of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, which is among the Joint Venture Partners of Miru Systems Co. Ltd. that contracted with the Comelec to provide the automated election system" for next year's midterm polls.

"The existence of such ties will cast doubts on the credibility of the elections," Sotto said in his letter.

When asked if Sotto's camp is filing a motion to disqualify Discaya, his lawyer Macalintal said no.

"Wala namang motion to disqualify, iniinform lang natin ang Comelec tungkol sa concern niya tungkol doon sa Miru tsaka dun sa St. Timothy na may mga balita nga na yan ay may mga nagkandidato mga partners nung nasabing dating partner sa Joint Venture ng Miru kaya ang bagay na yan ay ni-refer namin kay Chairman," Macalintal said.

Sotto's letter however asked the poll body to "act with a sense of justice to ensure the integrity and credibility of the upcoming elections and prevent acts that put the election process in mockery or disrepute, even if it means disqualifying Sarah Discaya and her running mates."

"Sakin po walang problema kahit sinong tumakbo sa Pasig wala pong problema. In fact, isa yan sa pinaglaban natin noong 2019 nung una po akong tumakbo para Mayor at nung nanalo po ako na mayor kasama yan sa pinaglaban ko na buksan ang pulitika sa Lungsod ng Pasig. Pero ang tama ay tama, ang mali ay mali. Dito lang po tayo sa tama. Dito lang po tayo sa kung ano ang katotohanan," Sotto clarified.

The Comelec en banc has referred the letter to its law department, Comelec chairman George Garcia said on Wednesday.

Garcia said they "appreciated" Sotto's letter, and that the Comelec's law department will now look into the information provided by the Pasig City mayor.

"Mukha naman ang intention niya talaga is just to inform the commission and we really appreciate [it]. Sobrang namin pinapasalamatan yung pag-inform niya sa amin. We have to verify yung mga bagay na kanyang sinabi pa rin doon," he said.

"That's the reason why ni-refer namin sa law department," he added. "Kung ano man 'yung aksyon na gusto niyang gawin after the filing of the letter, yan ay absolute discretion ni Mayor at igagalang natin yan."

"Pero again, nagpapasalamat tayo sa pagdalaw niya dito at pagbibigay sa amin ng kaalaman doon sa mga ilang bagay bagay patungkol dyan sa nag-withdraw (na) joint venture partner."

The Comelec's law department had earlier been tasked to look into to the criminal, civil, and administrative liability of the withdrawing joint venture partner.

Early this month, St Timothy has withdrawn from the joint venture led by Miru.

Comelec says construction firm withdrew from joint venture led by Miru

But Sotto's letter said the construction firm's withdrawal from the joint venture "may no longer save the day for Sarah Discaya and her Running Mates and Curlee Discaya as such withdrawal may constitute an admission of the presence of conflict of interest should Sarah Discaya pursue her candidacy."

Sarah Discaya's husband, Pacifico Felizario, Discaya is the second nominee of Pinoy Ako Party-list.

The Discayas have yet to respond to ABS-CBN News' request for comment.