Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has once again become a trending topic on social media after he exposed a group of protesters outside Pasig City Hall as non-residents, hailing instead from Quezon City. The protest, which was initially believed to involve local Pasigueños opposing the construction of the new City Hall, turned out to be orchestrated by individuals from another city, leading Sotto to label the event as a “dirty tactic” by a political group.
Sotto, known for his transparency and straightforward approach, confronted the situation head-on. “Ok lang ang katanungan pero sawa na tayo sa DIRTY TACTICS. Lumalabas sa imbestigasyon na pinahakot sila ng isang political group dito,” Sotto stated, pointing out that the protesters were likely brought in by a rival political faction. He further alleged that this group has been engaging in underhanded tactics, including the use of press releases to tarnish his administration’s reputation and employing Facebook trolls and tabloids to spread misinformation.
The protest, which started around 10 AM, was led by Baldo Balbadores, a known leader of market vendors in the city. Armed with a megaphone, Balbadores rallied the group against the new City Hall construction. However, when confronted by Mayor Sotto, he denied any knowledge of the “hakot” protesters, maintaining that his intentions were genuine.
In response to Sotto’s exposé, St. Gerrard Construction, the company allegedly behind the protest, quickly issued a statement denying any involvement. The company expressed its dismay at being linked to the event and indicated that they are considering legal action against the mayor for what they described as baseless accusations.
The revelation has stirred the public, with many taking to social media to voice their support for Sotto and criticize the use of “hakot” protesters as a political weapon. The incident has also sparked conversations about the ethical boundaries in political campaigns and the lengths to which some groups will go to undermine their opponents.
Mayor Vico Sotto makes sense.
— Gebriel Espaniola (@Gebriel990) August 12, 2024
Good Governance
I admired his political strategy & good governance of his directives.
Transparency
The reason why people ask where funds go? For transparency, he knows what the answer should be told to the taxpayers. pic.twitter.com/jNCY4cE5vh
As the situation develops, Mayor Sotto’s actions continue to receive attention, reinforcing his image as a leader unafraid to call out questionable practices in local politics. Meanwhile, the potential legal battle between St. Gerrard Construction and the mayor adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama.