Vico Sotto Reveals Leadership Lessons Learned from Robredo and Gatchalian
VICO SOTTO – The Pasig City Mayor has shared that his leadership style has been shaped by lessons he has learned from other well-known public officials, especially former Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo and Senator Win Gatchalian, while also saying that he continues to learn from other leaders in general.
In a recent interview, Sotto explained that his way of running the city—especially his habit of asking for advice and listening before making important decisions—comes partly from his natural curiosity, but more importantly from watching effective leaders in action. He said he believes it is important to learn from those who came before him, especially those who have shown good examples of public service in the country.
When asked about leaders who influenced him, he first mentioned Jesse Robredo, whom he never met personally but learned about through stories from people who worked closely with him. He described Robredo’s leadership as focused on people and on building real connections with citizens. Robredo served as mayor of Naga City for 10 years and later became Interior Secretary before he passed away in a plane crash in 2012. Sotto said Robredo’s example helped him understand what responsible and effective leadership looks like.
Aside from Robredo, Sotto also pointed to Senator Win Gatchalian as another important influence. He noted that they had similar experiences, including becoming mayors at a young age and taking over local governments with strong opponents and established political groups. Because of these similarities, Sotto said he asked Gatchalian for advice on how to deal with employees and officials who remained loyal to the previous administration. According to him, Gatchalian openly shared his experiences, which helped guide him during his early years as mayor.
Sotto also said that people often have a negative view of politicians, but explained that this belief likely comes from real experiences and should be understood. He stressed that good leadership means learning from both the successes and mistakes of past officials.
Now on his third and final term as mayor, Sotto continues to receive recognition for his leadership. He has been included in international lists such as TIME100 Next and recently became one of the global winners of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, receiving a grant for innovative projects such as Pasig’s floating parks initiative.
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