Jamaine Punzalan

Halalan 2022 presidential candidate Leody de Guzman and running mate Walden Bello pay a courtesy visit to Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto before a palengke tour on April 26, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175635476375020220426-campaign-de-guzman-bello-pasig-JC-10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, April 26, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto urged the public to “challenge the culture” of admiring displays of wealth from government officials and those linked to tax-funded projects, underscoring that this behavior was “strong evidence” of how corruption had been normalized in the Philippines.</p><p>Earlier this week, alleged scions of several lawmakers and contractors who bagged billions in pesos worth of flood control projects from the government drew flak for their previous vlogs and photos showcasing their lavish lifestyles and luxury purchases.</p><p>“Kailangan nga pansinin natin yung mga ganoong kwento, mga ganoong pagkakataon. Gawin natin siyang hindi normal at gawin natin siyang hindi nakaka-inspire,” Sotto told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.</p><p>“As public officials we have a code of ethics. Ostentatious display of wealth is also bad regardless of the source… pero siguro yung mga nakita talaga natin na connected sa contractor, sila naman nag-post nun online diba? So bigyan natin sila ng atensyon kung gusto nila,” he said.</p><p>“Kailangan maging nakakadiri yung korapsyon. Kailangan hindi siya maging katanggap-tanggap.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/25/dpwh-lack-of-coordination-over-flood-control-projects-irks-lgus-1019">DPWH lack of coordination over flood control projects irks LGUs</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/te28DeyYx-Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Sotto — who earlier received a Global Anti-Corruption Champion Award from the US State Department — lamented that some Filipinos seemed to have succumbed to the idea that it is normal for a politician to amass wealth while in office.</p><p>“I think, unfortunately, through the years, that’s really what happened. It’s become accepted, naging katanggap-tanggap siya sa ating lahat,” the Mayor said.</p><p>“If we want to fix this, kailangan aminin natin na at some level, all of us are guilty here. Hindi ibig sabihin na may natanggap tayo pero ibig sabihin at some point, hinayaan natin. Pumayag tayo,” he said.</p><p>“I think that is the first step: to challenge that system, challenge that culture, basagin natin yun.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/26/200-flood-control-projects-in-manila-have-no-permits-isko-moreno-1905">200 flood control projects in Manila have no permits: Isko Moreno</a></div><p>Being wealthy is not necessarily evil, but Filipinos should be more discerning about how assets have been acquired and question why some people find the need to flaunt it, said Sotto, who is known for his frugality both with Pasig City’s expenditures and his personal finances.</p><p>“Wala namang masama maging mayaman kung galing yan sa maayos na paraan, pinaghirapan yan, pinaghirapan mo o pinaghirapan ng pamilya mo yan, wala namang masama,” he said.</p><p>“I guess with everything that is happening now, I think it’s all for the better. Napapaisip na tayo ngayon,” he said.</p><p>“Kapag may nakita na tayo na pinagmamalaki yung travels, luxury cars, sa yate nagpa-party, mapapaisip na tayo,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/26/coa-orders-inspection-of-ongoing-completed-flood-control-projects-in-bulacan-1800">COA orders inspection of ongoing, completed flood control projects in Bulacan</a></div><p>Pasig City has filed an official request for the national government to provide more data on the flood control projects that have been executed in Metro Manila’s fourth richest city in the past three years.</p><p>The city government seeks to review if these projects from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were reasonably priced and complied with standards, Sotto said, noting how most national projects were not coordinated with the local government.</p><p>“Gusto namin tumulong sa pamamagitan ng imbestigasyon within our area of responsibility,” he said.</p><p>“We want to do our part to help investigate if it will help at malaman natin yung katotohanan.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/27/platform-to-monitor-flood-control-projects-launched-1921">Platform to monitor flood control projects launched </a></div><div><iframe width="1250" height="703" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K8Pxs4qzxuw" title="&#x27;Baha pa rin!&#x27; Isko isiniwalat ang nadatnang P14-B flood control projects sa Maynila | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QZHMZPPbJkE" title="Jinggoy to Sarah Discaya: &#x27;Sino ang kontak mo diyan sa DPWH?&#x27; | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto urged the public to “challenge the culture” of admiring displays of wealth from government officials and those linked to tax-funded projects, underscoring that this behavior was “strong evidence” of how corruption had been normalized in the Philippines.</p>

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto urged the public to “challenge the culture” of admiring displays of wealth from government officials and those linked to tax-funded projects, underscoring that this behavior was “strong evidence” of how corruption had been normalized in the Philippines.

Vico on contractors’ kin flaunting wealth: ‘Gawin natin siyang hindi normal, hindi nakaka-inspire’

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Vico on contractors’ kin flaunting wealth: ‘Gawin natin siyang hindi normal, hindi nakaka-inspire’

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 28, 2025 12:22 PM PHT

|

Updated Aug 28, 2025 06:42 PM PHT

Read More:

Vico Sotto

Pasig

corruption

contractors

influencers

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.