Vico Sotto: “Kailangan may managot”
VICO SOTTO – The Pasig City Mayor once again made headlines after sharing his thoughts on the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on questionable flood-control projects.
In a Facebook post on September 2, Mayor Sotto urged authorities to act quickly before those involved in the controversy escape accountability. He stressed that the issue should not simply fade away after a few months, saying, “Kailangan may managot.”
Sotto warned that the same problems would continue to recur if contractors, politicians, and officials at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are not held accountable. His comments followed those of businesswoman Sarah Discaya, whose companies are at the center of the investigation, who gave inconsistent statements during the Senate hearing.
According to Sotto, Discaya initially distanced herself from eight out of nine companies linked to her name when questioned by Senator Erwin Tulfo. But just a few minutes later, she admitted owning all nine, before shifting again and saying she was only a “part-owner.” For Sotto, this showed a lack of honesty, even suggesting that the group may be using dummy owners to conceal their finances.
The hearing also highlighted the Discaya family’s lavish lifestyle. Sarah Discaya admitted buying one to three luxury cars each year since 2016. When totaled, the value of their vehicles—including Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Mercedes-Benz—amounted to around ₱158 million. This revelation fueled public suspicion, especially since the companies linked to her have been flagged for alleged ghost projects.
Mayor Sotto further emphasized the need to question not only the contractors but also DPWH officials who may have approved or benefited from these deals. He asked whether some contractors had been advancing as much as 40% of project costs to politicians. He also urged the Senate to summon not only Sarah but also Curlee “Great Pacific” Discaya, whom he described as the family’s campaign spokesperson and “DPWH project mastermind.”