Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, together with lawyer Romulo Macalintal, handed over a letter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday, October 28, raising his concerns about the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
According to Sotto, they informed Comelec Chairman George Garcia of the various events in Pasig City that may be matters of national interest.
“May hinatid lang po ako na sulat kay chairman. May mga concerns lang po kami, siguro mahuhulaan n'yo naman kung tungkol saan (I just delivered a letter to the chairman. We just have some concerns, and I’m sure you can guess what they are about),” the mayor said.
“Basically, ini-inform lang po namin siya sa mga ibang kaganapan, ibang pangyayari po sa Pasig that may be a matter of national interest also hindi lang po sa amin (Basically, we are just informing him about various events and occurrences in Pasig that may also be of national interest, not just to us),” he added.
The mayor's letter read, "I write as a citizen and on behalf of those who sincerely desire for transparent and credible elections in 2025, trusting on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC's) public statements that it will endeavor to ensure the integrity and credibility of the upcoming elections.”
It reiterated the statement of Chairman Garcia: “The Commission en banc immediately conveyed its sentiment to the joint venture that we will not allow the integrity of the elections to be questioned simply because one of the owners of our contracting partners would run in the 2025 elections.”
According to the letter, despite the Comelec’s statements, some personalities challenged it following the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) for the mayoral post in Pasig City of Cezarah Rowena Cruz Discaya, also known as Sarah Discaya, whom he said was the owner and chief financial officer of St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corp.
Sotto's letter also claims that there is “overwhelming evidence that St. Gerrard is an alter-ego of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, which is among the Joint Venture Partners of Miru Systems Co. Ltd. that contracted with the Comelec to provide the automated election system." for next year's election.
"The existence of such ties will cast doubts on the credibility of the elections," he said in the letter.
Meanwhile, Macalintal clarified that they will not file a motion to disqualify Discaya.
"Wala namang motion to disqualify, iniinform lang natin ang Comelec tungkol sa concern niya tungkol doon sa Miru saka yung sa St. Timothy na may mga balita nga na ‘yan ay may mga nagkandidato na mga partners nung nasabing dating partner sa Joint Venture ng Miru kaya ang bagay na yan ay ni-refer namin kay Chairman (There is no motion to disqualify. We are just informing the Comelec about Mayor Vico's concerns regarding Miru and St. Timothy, especially since there are reports that some candidates are partners of the said former partner in the Joint Venture of Miru, so we refer that matter to the Chairman)," Macalintal said.
However, the letter also asked the Comelec to "act with a sense of justice to ensure the integrity and credibility of the upcoming elections and prevent acts that put the election process in mockery or disrepute, even if it means disqualifying Sarah Discaya and her running mates.”
The mayor clarified that he has no issues with whoever will run for position in Pasig City, but he will only stand for what is right and true.
“Sa akin po walang problema kahit sino ang tumakbo sa Pasig. In fact, isa ‘yan sa pinaglaban natin noong 2019, noong una po akong tumakbo para mayor at noong nanalo po ako kasama ‘yan sa pinaglaban ko na buksan ang politika sa lungsod ng Pasig… pero ang tama ay tama, ang mali ay mali. Dito lang po tayo sa tama. Dito lang po tayo sa kung ano ang katotohanan (I have no problem with anyone running in Pasig. In fact, that was one of the things we fought for in 2019, when I first ran for mayor, and when I won, I included it in my advocacy to open up politics in the city, but what's right is right, and what's wrong is wrong. Let's stick to what is right. Let's stick to the truth),” he stated.
On October 3, Garcia announced that St. Timothy Construction Corporation (STCC) has withdrawn from its joint venture with Miru, Integrated Computer Systems, Inc. (ICS), and Center Point Solutions and Technologies, Inc. (CPSTI).
Related stories: https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/3/miru-s-local-partner-opts-out