Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto denied claims that he will be replacing Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as Independent Commission for Infrastructure's (ICI) special adviser on Monday, Sept. 29.

Sotto made the statement after he was "misquoted" when he was asked by the media if he would be open in taking over the post vacated by Magalong.

"I was quoted wrong. Kung pakikinggan ng maigi, ang sinabi ko po ay, 'Nag-release NA po kami ng statement' (I was quoted wrong. If you listen closely, what I said was we have already released a statement)," Sotto said, referring to the statement of the Mayors 4 Good Governance (M4GG) which he is a member of.

Sotto also urged the public to not think negatively of the media and its practitioners amid his statement, saying that he just wants to clear things up immediately to avoid the spread of misinformation.

"Benefit of the doubt at wag naman sanang pag isipan kaagad ng masama ang media na nag-post. Lahat naman nagkakamali. Di ko lang mahintay ang sagot nila dahil napopost na sa ibang page at kumakalat na ang misquote. Alam nyo naman ang social media. kailangan talagang mag ingat tayo. Clarification lang po at ang bilis pa naman kumalat ng kung ano anong kwento ngayon. Salamat po (Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and please don't immediately think badly of the media that posted. Everyone makes mistakes. I just can't wait for their answer because it's already being posted on other pages and the misquote is spreading. You know social media. We really need to be careful. Just a clarification and how quickly stories spread these days. Thank you)," he noted.

The M4GG had earlier released a statement airing its support for Magalong after he resigned from the ICI following Malacañang's comment saying that the President wants his legal team to review the mayor's position in the ICI to ensure its integrity while conducting investigations on the anomalous flood control projects in the country.

"As Mayor of Baguio, he has consistently defended the common good against entrenched interests. He has acted decisively to regulate overdevelopment, protect the city’s environment, and confront corruption across Baguio and the Cordillera, always placing accountability above personal and political gain. At the national level, Mayor Magalong has consistently chosen integrity even in the face of intimidation and pressure. He led the Board of Inquiry on the Mamasapano tragedy with independence, rejecting attempts to alter the final report. He courageously exposed the "ninja cops" controversy, prioritizing principle over personal or institutional loyalty. He has faced these battles head-on, often at great personal risk," the statement read.

"These choices send one clear message: Mayor Magalong cannot be bought, bullied, or swayed by favors or threats. His compass has always been the truth. At a time when public trust in institutions is eroded, Mayor Magalong is living proof that leaders of character still exist: those who put people above politics, justice above self-interest, and service above ambition," it added.

The officials also vowed to stand united in the crusade for truth and against corruption, promising to fight and ensure that Filipinos receive the principled leadership they deserve.

"Our fight for good governance is not a sprint but a long game, one we are committed to winning for the people we serve," the group noted.