Vico Sotto, 3 others face graft raps

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto and three other local officials are facing graft charges over the alleged act of making city hall employees sign receipts for P1,500 when they were instead handed t-shirts.  

In a 28-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman on July 30, Pasig resident Michelle Prudencio accused Sotto of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act as well as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Also charged were human resource head Elvira Flores, city administrator Jeron Manzanero as well as bids and awards committee head Josephine Lati-Bagaoisan.

Prudencio said local government employees should have been given P1,500 in allowances for the purchase of “uniform or costume and other related expenses” during Pasig’s foundation day.

Prudencio alleged that on June 28, the human resource department distributed t-shirts to the city hall employees instead of the cash allowance.

She said the city hall employees were made to sign receipts for P1,500.

Sotto has yet to comment on the complaint, but earlier dismissed another graft case filed against him as a “dirty tactic” mounted by “political groups (ramping) up their activities.”

The other graft case, filed two weeks ago, stemmed from the alleged grant of 100 percent tax discounts for Converge in 2022.