Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto gamely shook hands with air after his opponent for mayor, Sarah Discaya, failed to attend the Peace Covenant signing at Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish on Thursday, March 27.
Candidates for local positions in Pasig City, including mayor, vice mayor, and councilors (for Districts 1 and 2), gathered and attended the event, which was organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec)–Pasig City, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines - Joint Task Force.
During the event, each candidate signed an Integrity Pledge, committing to a safe, honest, orderly, peaceful, credible, and fair election.
However, Discaya was unable to attend the event. In a media interview, congressional candidate Atty. Ian Sia provided an explanation for her absence.
“Ah si ate Sarah po, nasa bahay lang po siya. Ang sabi po kasi ni Doc. Kung alam naman po ninyo si ate Sarah, eh kaya nga po medical mission ang inuna namin sa Pasig dahil si ate Sarah, kundi n'yo po alam eh siya po ay diabetic at asthmatic, pero despite that condition, nakita n'yo naman napaubong nila ang kanilang hanap-buhay mag-asawa (Ate Sarah is just at home. The doctor said so. You know, that’s why we prioritized the medical mission in Pasig because Ate Sarah, in case you didn’t know, is diabetic and asthmatic. But despite that condition, you can see that she and her husband were still able to sustain their livelihood),” he explained.
The local government said that while attending the Peace Covenant is not mandatory for candidates, their participation still symbolizes their belief in the importance of promoting activities like this.
“Bagamat isa lamang itong ceremonial activity ay sinasalamin nito ang ideals na nirerepresenta ng Peace Covenant: ito ay deklarasyon ng bawat isa, kakandidato man o mga kawani ng Pamahalaan na kabilang sa pangangasiwa ng election, na maninidigan para sa eleksyon na may integridad, respeto, at patas (Although this is only a ceremonial activity, it reflects the ideals represented by the Peace Covenant: it is a declaration from each individual, whether a candidate or government official involved in election management, to stand for an election with integrity, respect, and fairness),” it said.
Following the event, Sotto said: “Good luck to all candidates, and may truth, fairness, and peace prevail in the campaign period and elections this 2025.”
He also explained why he did not respond to the other party’s invitation in 2024 to sign the peace covenant.
“Comelec hosts this before every election, 1 day before the campaign period. Kaya hindi na rin ako sumagot sa mga publicity stunt ng kabila na iniimbitihan daw nila ako para mag Peace Covenant. Kasi hindi naman talaga kandidato ang dapat mag-set nito kundi Comelec (That's why I didn’t respond to the other party’s invitation to sign the Peace Covenant in 2024 because it’s Comelec’s responsibility to organize such events, not the candidates),” he explained.
“Ang nakapagtataka, yung nagsasabing ayaw ko ng peace convenant ang siya namang hindi nakadalo (It's strange that the one claiming I’m against the Peace Covenant is the one who didn't attend),” he added.
PPCRV Priest Coordinator Fr. Sanchez urged the candidates to clearly and honestly express their dreams for the city and not tarnish the dignity and integrity of their rivals. Instead, candidates should present solutions and their goals that will bring continuous progress to Pasig City.