Vico Sotto vows to jail corrupt Pasig officials, workers

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig City warned corrupt city hall officials and workers on Monday that, if caught, they would face jail time.

“Those of you who are still doing these things, you’re playing with fire. Don’t blame me, and don’t let your families plead with me when you’re caught because I’m really going to start imprisoning people,” Sotto said in Filipino during the flag-raising ceremony at city hall.

“Just last week, we got another report,” he went on. “This poor senior citizen went back and forth at the assessor’s office. They gave him a hard time. I won’t mention at its point the details, but in the end, he was being asked for eighty-thousand [pesos],” he said.

He called on employees to report to the Office of the City Administrator those involved in such corrupt practices.

“I don’t think I have given an inadequate warning in reminding you about this,” Sotto said. “If it was possible before, it no longer is now. If previously they let it happen, it’s not allowed now. Let’s do our work honestly,” he said.

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