Team "Kaya This" of Pasig mayoral bet Sarah Discaya is calling for the truth to come out following a controversial video of a 57-year-old woman with a psychological disability reportedly used to criticize Mayor Vico Sotto.
The video was allegedly filmed in the property owned by Discaya.
In a statement on Thursday, April 10, the camp said: “We have been made aware of an incident involving a person with a disability (PWD) who was allegedly interviewed by a vlogger to discredit a political rival.”
“Team Kaya This will cooperate fully with the authorities in their investigation. We want the truth to come out, and we support any process that ensures accountability,” it added.
The camp stated that they do not have control over every conversation or piece of content produced by those who visit or claim affiliation with them, amid reports that the video may have been taken at the property of St. Gerrard Construction, which is owned by the Discayas.
“Over the last six months, various individuals—including vloggers and supporters—have come and gone from our house and headquarters,” it said.
The video posted on the now unavailable Facebook page “The Journal Pasig” showed PWD “Mary” saying she will no longer vote for Sotto due to lack of assistance coming from his administration, adding that she will vote for Sarah Discaya instead.
According to her, she was just about to claim rice from a candidate in the other barangay but was told she needed to record a video before she could leave.
"Dinala niya ako sa isang sulok na walang nakakarinig na tao. Sabi ko, 'Hindi ko po alam sasabihin ko, hindi ko po alam gagawin ko.' Tinuruan niya ako kung ano ang sasabihin ko (The person brought me to a corner where no one else can hear us. I told that person that I don't know what to say or do. He then taught me what to say instead)," she said.
Team Kaya This, on the other hand, clarified that they do not condone the use of any individual, especially someone from a vulnerable sector, for political attacks.
“We are ready to provide any information or assistance necessary to help clarify the situation. We trust the authorities to investigate this matter fairly and thoroughly,” it stated.
Meanwhile, Sotto stated that the use of PWDs for politics is unacceptable.
On Monday, April 7, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian directed the agency to launch a fact-finding investigation into the alleged exploitation of Mary.
“We have dispatched a fact-finding team to look into the reported malicious exploitation of a mentally-challenged person who was put on video and forced to say negative things against the incumbent mayor. And if proven true, the DSWD will take the lead in filing the case against those behind the video,” Gatchalian said.
He explained that using persons with disabilities for political purposes could constitute a violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610, also known as the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.”