Amid ongoing complaints and a temporary restraining order (TRO) filed against Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, the local government asserted on Sunday that its residents can see through the issues.
“It is tough to fight against opponents who have billions, are against reforms, and are willing to pay proxies, Facebook trolls, and both former and current officials,” the Pasig City Public Information Office (PIO) told GMA News Online. “But the old traditional politics and dirty tactics no longer work in Pasig. The people will see right through it.”
Despite the strong statement, the Pasig PIO did not specify who these remarks were directed at.
The PIO also mentioned that Mayor Sotto’s camp has not yet received the graft complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman
The 28-page complaint accuses Sotto and three other city officials of distributing t-shirts to Pasig City Hall employees instead of giving a PHP 1,500 allowance for the 451st “Araw ng Pasig.”
The Pasig PIO added, “It’s easy to have a complaint received and then sensationalize it by presenting the ‘received’ copy to the media.”
Meanwhile, the applications for a TRO and preliminary injunction were denied by the Regional Trial Court, as noted by the Pasig PIO. A 39-page petition had been filed on August 19, seeking a TRO against the construction of a new Pasig city hall.
Additionally, another complaint has been lodged against Sotto, alleging the illegal granting of a discount to the telecommunications provider Converge. Sotto has responded to these allegations, stating that these complaints are part of the dirty tactics employed by certain political groups.