SENATE HONORS VICO SOTTO: The Senate adopts a resolution commending and congratulating Pasig City Mayor Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” Sotto (center) for being recognized by the United States Department of State as one of its international anti-corruption champions. Photo shows Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III (5th from left) and Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri (7th from left). They were joined by (from left) Sens. Win Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, Pia S. Cayetano and Manuel “Lito” Lapid. (Joseph Vidal/ Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto’s love life, or the lack of it, has become a topic even inside the Senate halls.
At Monday’s session of the Senate, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri gave 31-year-old Sotto a gentle reminder about his love life.
“Honest to goodness public service sometimes can be a deep passion to many servants like us that we have sometimes too engrossed in it with our devotion to serve the people na minsan nakakalimutan natin yung ating private life [that we sometimes forget our private life],” Zubiri said.
“Kaya ang payo ko kay Mayor Vico, huwag nyang kalimutan yung private life lalong lalo na ang kanyang love life…” he added, noting that he himself got married late because of work.
(That’s why my advice to Mayor Vico is not to forget his private life, especially his love life.)
Sotto was at the the Senate to personally receive the Senate’s commendation for his “outstanding leadership” in Pasig City especially during this pandemic.
The mayor was also recently named one of 12 International Anti-corruption Champions by the US Department.
“ O baka gusto po nyang e-idolize ang ating pambansang bachelor ng Senado, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian…” Zubiri went on.
Gatchalian is currently in a relationship with actress Bianca Manalo.
Sotto’s uncle, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III gamely joined Zubiri in teasing his nephew.
“He’s got a long way to go but I understand there are many applicants,” the Senate leader said.
“Yes totoo po yan, yan ang nababasa ko po [That’s true based on what I read also],” Zubiri answered.
When interviewed on television in 2019, Mayor Sotto said he was too busy to have a girlfriend.
“Wala talagang time,” he then said, “Talagang pag may free time ako, mas gusto ko pang matulog or magpahinga na lang.”
(There is really no time. If I have free time, I’d rather sleep or rest.)
Before talking about the mayor’s love life, Zubiri also floated the idea of the local chief executive holding a higher post.
“Sayang, Mr. President, four more years and he would have been qualified for a national office or higher office,” the Majority Leader said.
“He would be a good example to many many of us public servants both in public service and out. We’d like to emulate this young gentleman,” the senator added.