Incumbent Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto reminded the public to be wary of politicians who are resorting to vote-buying as the May 2022 elections draw near.
In his Facebook post on Saturday, Sotto recounted his encounter with a resident who told him that someone went to their area and handed out cash in exchange for their votes.
"Pasakay na ako ng sasakyan, biglang may humawak sa braso ko. "Mayor Vico!" sabi ni Ate, "Nagpa-ulan sila ng pera dito kahapon! Pero wag ka mag-alala, alam na namin yun. Balak din nilang bawiin yun" (I was about to board my vehicle when a woman grabbed my arm and told me "Mayor Vico! They came here yesterday and gave out money to us! But don't worry, we already know what was that for. They will just try to recover that money if they win)," Sotto said.
The mayor explained that even if some politicians said that the money they are giving away to their supporters came from their own pockets, it is still impossible that they will not take it back again once they get elected.
He said some politicians are giving away a minimum of P300 per person and there are 1,000 people about to receive it which starts 200 days after the filing of candidacy. This means they will be spending P60,000,000 for their campaign.
"Dito pa lang, baka mahigit 60 million pesos na ang gastos nila. Ma-check nga ulit ang Forbes List, bilyonaryo ba sila? (They've already spent 60 million pesos for their campaign. I think I have to check Forbes List because maybe they are billionaires)," Sotto said.
He added that people involved in vote-buying may also be funded by those who miss the old and unjust ways of government bidding and corruption in the city hall.
"The truth hurts, but it is the truth: Ang malaki gumastos sa kampanya ay mas malaki pa ang babawiin (The one who spends so much in the campaign will take back even more once they win)," Sotto said.
"We have already started to break this cycle. Sa makabagong politika na tayo. Di tayo gagastos ng malaki, pero pag nanalo ay gagamitin ang pondo ng LGU ng buong-buo at walang bawas para sa taumbayan (We are now in the new age of politics. We will not spend so much in campaigning but once we win, we will use the funds of the LGU (local government unit) in its entirety for our citizens)," he added.
Running in the upcoming elections with Sotto are Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. for vice mayor and re-electionist Congressman Roman Romulo.
The team’s candidates for councilor for District 1 are: Mark Gil “Volta” Delos Santos, Roderick “Eric” Gonzales, Raymund “Kiko” Rustia, Paul Roman “Pao” Santiago, Paul Senogat, and Simon Romulo Tantoco.
For District 2: Noel “Buboy” Agustin, Quin “Kin” Cruz, Maria Luisa “Angelu” De Leon, Marion “Mato” Martires, and Corazon “Corie” Raymundo.