"They are planning to file their candidacy in Pasig.”
Pasig City Mayor Vico stated this on Thursday, October 3, following the withdrawal of St. Timothy Construction Corporation (STCC), one of the local partners of Miru Systems (Miru) in the Automated Election System (AES) for the 2025 National and Local Elections joint venture.
Sotto thanked Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia after saying that this will not affect their commitment to deliver a better automated system in the service of Filipinos.
“Thank you, Chairman Garcia and Comelec, for acting to preserve the integrity of our elections. But let's remain on guard,” he said.
“Imagine being a financier/contracting party for Comelec's automated election machines, and running in the same elections?? Hindi ko maunawaan kung paano nila naiisip na ok lang yon (I don't understand how they think that's okay),” the mayor stated.
The mayor said that the people behind STCC and St. Gerrard Construction, owned by Sarah Discaya, are the same.
Discaya is reportedly expected to be Sotto's rival for the mayoral post in the 2025 polls.
“The same people are behind St. Gerrard Construction and St. Timothy Construction. They go around using St. Gerrard as if it's a political party,” Sotto explained.
“This is well known in many circles. The evidence is also overwhelming—the 2 construction companies have common incorporators, use the same business address… the presidents of both companies even declare the same residential address,” he added.
He also mentioned that the two companies have a questionable track record as government contractors, such as being once suspended by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for submitting a fake BIR tax clearance.
“Dapat malaman ng tao ang mga bagay na ito. Wala yatang ibang magsasabi kaya ako na lang (People should know about these things, but it seems no one else will say it, so I will),” he said.
Photos from Mayor Vico Sotto
On the other hand, Garcia said they learned a few days ago that the supposed owner of STCC may run for a local or national post.
"At dahil diyan, ipinaabot ng Commission En Banc ang sentimiyento nito sa MIRU at kanilang mga partners at sinasabi natin na (Because of that, the Commission En Banc relayed its sentiments to Miru and its partners stating that) we will not allow that the integrity of our election will be questioned simply because one of our contracting partners, or the owners will run for the 2025 National and Local Elections," Garcia said.
"We conveyed only two choices. One, that particular partner will have to withdraw from the joint venture, or number two, we might be compelled to disqualify certain candidates because we honestly believe that it is what we call conflict of interest," he added.
Related story: What happens now? Miru's local partner opts out of joint venture, Comelec chief says