“Enough is enough.”

This was what Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said during his State of the City Address (SOCA) on Monday, Oct. 13, as he announced that administrative cases have been initiated and criminal cases are being prepared against a number of allegedly corrupt barangay officials in the city.

Since his first term in 2019, Sotto said they have fought for better governance but admitted that, because their focus had been on the city government, they were not able to closely monitor the affairs of the city’s barangays.

“Pero aaminin ko na sa paglilinis natin ng ating pamahalaan, naka-focus tayo sa ating city government, hindi natin masyadong natutukan ang ating mga pamahalaang barangay (I admit that in our efforts to clean up our government, we have focused mainly on the city government and have not been able to give enough attention to our barangay governments),” he said.

“Sana po pare-pareho tayo na naghahangad ng inaasam-asam natin—ang isang mas maayos na Pilipinas (I hope that we all share the same desire for what we have long been hoping for—a better Philippines),” he added.

In his third and final term as city mayor, Sotto vowed to fight the old and corrupt practices within the barangay levels, even as some allegedly boast of having protection from the Commission on Audit (COA).

“Huwag kayong magmamalaki sa akin na malakas kayo kay COA Commissioner Lipana. Gagawin natin kung ano ang tama sa Lungsod ng Pasig (Do not boast about your supposed connections with COA Commissioner Lipana. We will do what is right for the City of Pasig),” Sotto stated.

He urged barangay officials to straighten up and be true public servants, saying that he was not referring to all, as many barangays have been performing well and providing quality service.

“Hanggang sa dulo ang laban na ‘to (This fight goes to the end),” Sotto said.

In early October, Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski had already warned corrupt barangay officials that those accused of wrongdoing would be sent to jail, stressing that transparency and accountability must begin at the barangay level.

On Oct. 8, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued Immigration Lookout Bulletin Orders (ILBOs) against 33 individuals allegedly involved in the anomalous flood control projects, including COA Commissioner Mario Lipana and his wife.

DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV confirmed that former Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, who had been appointed as Ombudsman and took his oath of office on Thursday, Oct. 9, signed the ILBO.

The issuance of the ILBOs was requested by retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres B. Reyes Jr., chairman of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

In his request, Reyes said an initial investigation related to the anomalous flood control projects has put "the subjects in a relevant position that operates to make them inevitable personalities during the fact-finding process."

"The timely issuance of ILBO is of utmost necessity to enable the Commission to proceed without delay and to hold those liable accountable to the Filipino people," he added.