Vice mayor rebukes Vico Sotto for turning Pasig into a ‘puro palabas’ city

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City Vice Mayor Christian “Iyo” Caruncho Bernardo has called out Mayor Vico Sotto for allegedly tarnishing the brand of service of the Caruncho family during a flag ceremony, noting that the leadership in the city is “puro palabas” (full of shows) under Sotto’s mayorship.

Bernardo compared Sotto to an actor who gets credit for the efforts of other city government officials.

“Parang pelikula, ako kasama ang buong City Council, ang direktor at cameraman, hindi mabubuo ang pelikula na wala kami kung saan naman ang aktor ay siyang umaarte lamang para mabigyang buhay ang kwento, pero sila ang sumisikat, pinapalakpakan. Nakakalungkot na ang Pasig, naging isang pelikula na lamang, puro palabas,” the vice mayor said in a video uploaded on a Facebook page called Pasig Dapat Pasigueniyo on Tuesday.

(It seems like a movie where I am the director and the cameraman, while the actor just plays a role, but he ends up being famous. It is sad to see how Pasig has become like a movie, filled with shows.)

The page describes itself as a “political affiliation, promoting Pasig should be headed by Pasigueniyo.”

“Kaya ako magsasalita ngayon ay para proteksyunan ang pangalang Caruncho na pilit mong dinudumihan. Noong nakaraang flag ceremony na sadya mong ginamit na lugar upang mangampanya sa pagkakasabi mo na tinext mo ako at nagconfirm sa pagdalo. Ito ang telepono ko, wala pong message or tawag si Mayor Vico Sotto,” said Bernardo.

(My purpose in speaking now is to protect the reputation of the Caruncho family, which you want to tarnish. Your latest flag ceremony was used for campaigning and you texted me confirming my attendance. Here’s my cellphone, I haven’t received any messages or calls from you.)

“Okay lang, itong parte na ito ay kaya kong palampasin kung ito lang ang sinabi mo. Pwedeng hindi na ako sumagot. Pero para sadyain mong palabasin na ako ay nasa air conditioned room lang at hindi nagtatrabaho, kailangan kong ipaalala sayo ang ambag ko at ng aking pamilya sa Pasig,” he added.

(I can let it pass if you have only said that. But because you internationally made it appear that I was just in my air-conditioned room and not working, I should remind you of my and my family’s contribution to Pasig.)

Bernardo ran unopposed for vice mayor of Pasig in 2019. He is running against Sotto for mayorship in the city in the 2022 elections.

Bernardo said Sotto is lucky because he gained fame through social media.

“Maswerte ka, Mayor Vico, sumikat ka ngayong panahon ng social media. Hindi mo naranasan noong panahon na sinusukat ang eleksyon sa husay ng paglilingkod. Sa kalye nasusukat ang tunay na serbisyo, ang tunay na pagmamalasakit,” the vice mayor said.

(You are lucky, Mayor Vico, because you gained popularity in the time of social media. You did not experience the time when the election measures service quality. True service and compassion can be measured in the ground.)

“Nakakalungkot. Ngayon, pilit na ginagamit ang internet [para] matabunan lahat ng pagkakamali at kakulangan sa serbisyo. Tama ang sinabi mo, okay lang mamuna, tama naman po ‘yun pero kung ito ay may pupunahin o paninira lamang. Mayor Vico, parang palabas sa TV, alam mo ang formula para mapansin, sumikat at mapag-usapan,” he noted.

(It is saddening that the internet is now being used to cover the mistakes and insufficiencies in service. It is okay to criticize, but you should not tarnish names. It’s like a TV show. You know the formula to be famous and talked about by the people.)

Bernardo then claimed that Sotto had scolded members of the City Council for increasing the cash aid for tricycle drivers from P3,000 to P4,000.

The vice mayor also questioned the Pasig local government’s purchase of disinfectant drones and the appointment of non-Pasig residents to positions at the city hall.

“Nakakalungkot isipin na sinakop na tayo. Wala ka bang bilib sa kakayahan ng Pasigueño? Ano ang meron sa mga nakaupo ngayon na taga Quezon City at San Juan na wala sa mga pinamumunuan mo?” he asked the first-time mayor.

(It is sad to think that they have occupied our territories. Do you not have confidence in the ability of Pasigueños? What do those from Quezon City and San Juan have that your constituents do not have?)

INQUIRER.net has asked Sotto for comment through text message but has yet to receive a reply as of posting.

Sotto earlier announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation after having a sore throat, fever, and body ache.

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