Pasig City Mayor Vico on Saturday, October 12, vowed to continue the fight against the culture of dirty politics and corruption in the country.
Sotto expressed his stand in reaction to the accusation of businessman Selwyn Lao of WING-AM Construction and Development Corporation that the mayor harassed him in 2020.
Lao made the allegations during a live press conference on Saturday noon.
On his social media account, Sotto posted the copy of a message that reads “Office of Engr. Selwyn Lao of WING-AM Construction and Development Corporation, respectfully invited all media, reporters, photographers, writers, online news and bloggers for a press conference on the drug-related issues and the attack and harassment made by Pasig City Mayor Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto aka VICO SOTTO, and with his cohorts in the private property of Mr. Lao that went viral in socmed.”
Sotto also put in his post a photo of Lao and Curlee Discaya, the husband of Pasig City mayoral aspirant Sara Discaya, together with others, which was posted on a social media platform last August 19.
Presented during the live press conference was the concerned viral video showing Sotto confronting Lao for demolishing informal settlers’ houses in Barangay Bambang. Lao defended his move, saying he was demolishing the houses in his property because it was being used as a drug den.
“Nagkataon lang ba? 2020 pa yung nasabing viral video diba? (Was it just a coincidence? That viral video was from 2020, right?),” Sotto asked.
“Convicted ng korte si Mr. Lao sa kasong finile ng LGU... kaya siguro siya galit (Mr. Lao was convicted by the court in a case filed by the LGU... Maybe that’s why he’s mad. I never posted about it, but I will share now as they again try to change the story,” the mayor added.
He also noted that due to the lockdown and pandemic, they were not able to file some other cases in court, but he added that they still can.
“Kung papanuorin ang buong viral video mula 2020, makikita ang 2 totoong dahilan kung bakit ako nagalit nun: [una] Illegal demolition, na may bata pa daw sa loob ng bahay. Sinabihan ko pa nga siya na tutulungan siya ng LGU basta dumaan sa tamang proseso. Katunayan, tumulong ang LGU sa relokasyon ng mga tao mula doon (If you watch the full viral video from 2020, you’ll see the two real reasons why I got mad back then: first, illegal demolition, with claims that a child was still inside the house. I even told him that the LGU would help him as long as the proper process was followed. In fact, the LGU assisted in relocating the people from that place),” the mayor explained.
“[Pangalawa] Ilegal na nga yung ginawa niya, may nasira pa siyang bahagi ng kalsada (Second, aside from doing an illegal move, he also damaged a portion of the road),” he added.
“Yung mga alegasyon niya sa drugs ay na-refer ng maayos sa Chief of Police ng Pasig. Btw wala siyang naipakitang ebidensya pero inaksyunan pa rin ng police (His drug-related allegations were properly referred to the Chief of Police of Pasig. By the way, he didn't present any evidence, but the police still took action),” he said.
“Mukhang desperado at nagsasanib-pwersa na sila. Pero ganun talaga sa seryosong laban para sa pagbabago, marami kang makakabangga. Lagi ko ngang sinasabi, kung walang nagagalit sa akin, ibig sabihin kulang ang ginagawa ko (It seems they’re getting desperate and joining forces. But that’s how it is in a serious fight for change—you’ll clash with many. As I always say, if no one is mad at me, it means I’m not doing enough),” Sotto noted.