MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto personally filed a complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday, February 19, 2026, against his 2025 mayoral rival, contractor Sarah Discaya.
The complaint alleges that Discaya committed overspending during the campaign period and perjury regarding her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
Key Allegations in the Complaint:
- Excessive Campaign Spending: Sotto’s complaint states that Discaya exceeded the legal spending limit of ₱3 per registered voter for candidates with a political party. With approximately 463,000 registered voters in Pasig, her limit was roughly ₱1.39 million.
- Omissions in SOCE: Discaya declared only ₱895,000 in expenditures for “stationery and printing.” Sotto claims she failed to declare costs for:
- Large billboards and digital advertisements.
- Political rallies featuring famous personalities.
- Travel expenses related to campaign gatherings.
- Perjury Charges: Sotto is also suing for violations of the Revised Penal Code (Perjury), alleging Discaya knowingly made false statements under oath in her SOCE.
- Citizenship Case: A separate complaint was filed with the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office regarding alleged misdeclarations about Discaya’s citizenship.
“A Statement for Pasig”
Mayor Sotto, accompanied by veteran election lawyer Atty. Romulo Macalintal, explained that he waited until after the elections to file the case to avoid accusations of political motivation.
“I think it’s clear and blatant violations of election law,” Sotto said. “This is also a message for those who are running for Barangay elections and in the 2028 elections—anyone eligible and qualified can run, but they should follow the law. Or else, they will be held liable.”
Discaya’s camp has not yet released a response to the filing.