Vico Sotto Criticizes Broadcasters Linked to Discaya Interviews
VICO SOTTO – The Pasig City Mayor called out well-known journalists for allegedly accepting payments in exchange for interviews, raising questions about ethics in media.
In a Facebook post on August 21, 2025, Sotto questioned why prominent broadcasters would accept offers from contractors entering politics who were willing to spend millions just for an interview. While he did not directly name anyone, he shared screenshots of past interviews conducted by Julius Babao and Korina Sanchez with Sarah and Curlee Discaya, a contractor couple now linked to questionable government projects.
The interviews, which aired months earlier, resurfaced online as controversy surrounding the Discayas grew. The couple, who own several major construction companies, are among the top contractors identified by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in connection with the Department of Public Works and Highways’ ₱545 billion flood control projects. Some of these projects, worth over ₱500 million in Iloilo, were reported as non-functional or even non-existent. Sarah Discaya also ran against Sotto in the May 2025 Pasig mayoral elections.
Sotto emphasized that while accepting such interviews might not be “technically illegal,” it undermines public trust in journalism. He argued that respected broadcasters built their careers on credibility, which should be their most valuable asset. Lending that credibility to individuals facing corruption allegations, he said, risks damaging both their profession and the public’s trust in the truth.
He acknowledged that not everyone in media engages in such practices, noting that many honest journalists are disappointed or angered by these actions. Still, he stressed the importance of accountability: “Corruption is systemic… it permeates into every sector of society, not just government. But we can slowly but surely break this cycle if more and more of us consistently do our part, wherever we are and whatever are position may be, one step at a time.”
Sotto clarified in the comments section of his post that his intention was not to create enemies but to open a discussion on an issue he believes is important. “Nagkataon malakas ako nung halalan pero kung sa iba nila ginawa to? Baka wala na. Anyway. Kayo na po ang bahala sa akin.”
Related Post: Bongbong Marcos Reveals PH Spent P545 Billion for Flood Control Projects since July 2022