In an interview, Mayor Vico Sotto expressed strong points about corruption.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto became more vocal about corruption and the display of a lavish lifestyle of the kin of the contractors.
Previously, Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig City shared his views about paid interviews featuring contractors who wanted to become politicians. He did not mention any names, but he shared the interviews of Sarah Discaya with Julius Babao and Korina Sanchez.
The interviews have drawn intense attention online, and the wealth of the Discaya family was put at the center of the controversy. From the sight of their building and a garage stocked with luxury cars alone, it’s clear their wealth is hard to ignore, especially considering the alleged amounts they gained from DPWH projects. They themselves even admitted that their path to riches was through the DPWH.
In a previous article, Sotto revealed why he is speaking against the Discayas, and according to him, he can’t just turn a blind eye to matters that involve corruption. He was already aware of the allegations against them but chose to speak out only after the elections, since raising the issue during the campaign period might have been perceived as mere politicking.
Following his viral posts, numerous discussions emerged about these contractors and the extravagant lifestyles of their children. The heirs of several lawmakers and contractors, who allegedly amassed billions from government flood control projects, have been flaunting their opulent lifestyles and luxury purchases.
Recently, in an interview, Sotto expressed that things like this should really earn attention and that matters like corruption must not be normalized. As politicians, he believed that they have this codeof ethics where “ostentatious display of wealth is also bad regardless of the source,” but those connected to the controversial contractors deserve attention, as they were the ones who openly showcased their luxurious acquisitions and flaunted their affluent lifestyles online.
“Kailangan maging nakakadiri yung korapsyon. Kailangan hindi siya maging katanggap-tanggap.”
For the Pasig City Mayor who just received a Global Anti-Corruption Champion Award from the US State Department, it’s saddening to see how the people have become accustomed to the idea that public servants gain wealth while in office. He feels sad in knowing how the corruption has been normalized through the years.
“I think that is the first step: to challenge that system, challenge that culture, basagin natin yun,” he stressed. For him, becoming wealthy is not bad, but people must have a closer look at how the wealth was acquired.
With what is happening now, he feels like, somehow, things have become better as people have become more discerning. The public has become more aware, and they tend to raise more questions.
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