MANILA, Philippines — Another graft complaint has been filed against Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto less than a month after the first was lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman.
In the second complaint filed on July 30, 2024, Michelle Gonzales Prudencio alleged that Sotto, along with fellow respondents Elvira Flores of the city’s human resources development office (HRDO), administrator Jeronimo Manzanero, and Josephine Lati-Bagaoisan of the bids and awards committee, violated the government procurement reform act and the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.
The complainant said Sotto issued on June 27, 2024 an executive order (EO 28) for the grant of P1,500 for each city employee, and for the purchase of two sets of commemorative t-shirts for the Araw ng Pasig celebration and other activities.
Sotto directed the HRDO to oversee the implementation of the executive order.
A memorandum from the HRDO, also dated June 27, 2024, stated the date and schedule of the release and distribution of t-shirts for officials and employees, which was set on June 28, 29 and July 1, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto. PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE
On June 28, 2024, the first scheduled distribution of the t-shirts, the employees supposedly received t-shirts in place of the expected cash allowance as stated in EO 28.
“Moreover, during the scheduled distribution, the employees were required to acknowledge the receipt of the P1,500 cash allowance and were made to sign acknowledgment receipts to this effect,” the complainant said.
“Upon inspection, the t-shirts bore a design commemorating the “450th Araw ng Pasig, but 2024 marks the 452nd Founding Anniversary of the city,” she added.
In July, Sotto was charged before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly giving a 100-percent tax discount to a telecommunications company.
Also charged were Melanie de Mesa, head of the Business Permit and Licensing Department, and Jeronimo Manzanero, the city administrator.
In her complaint, Ethelmart Austria Cruz accused the three officials of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service and dishonesty.
Sotto brushed aside the complaint.
“It’s important to understand the process that cases go through in the Office of the Ombudsman. It’s easy to have a complaint received and then sensationalize it by bringing the “received” copy to the media,” he said.
“With this particular complaint, I can’t even comment because I don’t have an official copy. In some cases, the Ombudsman dismisses it outright, and we won’t even receive a copy. Other times, there will be a clarificatory hearing,” he added.
The mayor said that the filing of the case was part of dirty tactics of some political groups.
