FALSE

Reelectionist Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has done more than “clean sewers” since first being elected in 2019. Official records show he also implemented initiatives for COVID-19 response, infrastructure development and education, among other programs.

This contradicts the claim made by Christian “Ian” Sia, a congressional candidate running under Team Kaya This, the slate of businesswoman Sarah Discaya who is challenging Sotto in the May elections. During their sendoff event on March 28 at the St. Gerrard Construction Office at Bambang, Pasig City, Sia said the incumbent mayor had nothing to show aside from sewage cleaning efforts.

Walang masama magyabang kung meron kang ipagyayabang. Pero kung ikaw ang ama ng lungsod na dapat lumulutas sa pinakamabibigat na problema ng lipunan, ang ginawa mo sa loob ng anim na taon ay maglinis ng mga imburnal sa Pasig, hindi kita papalakpakan (There’s nothing wrong with bragging if you have something to brag about. But if you’re the father of the city who should be solving the most pressing problems of society, and what you’ve done within six years is clean sewers in Pasig, I won’t applaud you). [1:10 mark]

According to the Commission on Audit’s (COA) Executive Summary Report on Pasig City in 2019, the local government under Sotto prioritized education through scholarship grants and workshops, and implemented regulatory measures on transportation and infrastructure.

Sia’s statement came a day after the peace covenant signing at the Sta. Clara Montefalco Parish, where he called Sotto “disrespectful.”

During the event’s photo opportunity, Sotto extended a “handshake” toward Discaya’s empty spot.

The signing is a preelection tradition in Pasig, where candidates pledge to conduct a fair and peaceful campaign.

As of this writing, the video has garnered around 1.2 million views, 19,000 reactions, 6,500 comments and 1,100 shares.

Read the full story on FactRakers.org.

FactRakers is a Philippines-based fact-checking initiative of journalism majors at the University of the Philippines-Diliman working under the supervision of Associate Professor Yvonne T. Chua of the University of the Philippines’ Journalism Department. Associate Professor Ma. Diosa Labiste, also of the Journalism Department, serves as editorial consultant.

FactRakers' fact-checks also include those produced by Tinig ng Plaridel — the official student publication of the UP College of Media and Communication — and the UP Journalism Club.

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