MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto disclosed on Tuesday that he had directed the apprehension of a city hall employee, someone he personally recommended for employment and considered a friend, for allegedly soliciting and accepting a bribe during a transaction.
According to Sotto, the employee initially asked for P15,000 in exchange for a signature from the Office of the Building Official but eventually agreed with P10,000.
“Kaibigan ko [siya], ako po nagrecommend sa kanya na ipasok siya sa city hall, pero napatunayan natin, pinapakita natin sa lahat na walang kaibi-kaibigan dito. ‘Pag may ginawa kang krimen, pasensya na,” Sotto said in his speech after the city hall’s flag-raising ceremony.
(The person is my friend. I recommended him to be hired in the city hall, but we proved and showed everyone that there are no friends here. If you commit a crime, I’m sorry.)
Sotto said that the employee was entrapped and arrested but was unsure whether the complainant would proceed with filing a case.
He noted this kind of bribery scheme among city hall employees has been happening for a while. However, he said that he feels proud as the majority of the employees seem to not engage in such acts anymore.
“Proud ako sa ating mga kawani, siguro karamihan ganun na rin ang ginagawa [na hindi pagtanggap ng suhol],” he said.
(I’m proud of our staff; most of them are probably doing the same [in not accepting bribes].
The Pasig mayor also reminded the employees to help in changing the bribery “culture,” starting within the city hall.
“Kaya ako tumakbo ng second term bilang mayor, ang pangarap ko, pagkatapos ng term ko kung maka-three terms man ako, bahala na ang Diyos, mas maayos ang iiwan kong lgu [local government unit],” he said.
(That’s why I ran for a second term as mayor; it’s my dream that after my term if I get three terms, it’s up to God, I’ll leave the LGU better.)
“‘Yung korapsyon kahit palitan mo ang mayor, kahit maayos ang konsehal lahat ‘yan…ang totoo niyan naisakultura na po, naisakultura na po natin ang korapsyon na ‘yan. Gawin natin ‘yung part natin para maiurong ng kaunti ‘yung kultura natin, ‘yung mga hindi magandang kalakaran,” he added.
(Even if you change the mayor, even if all the councilors are doing their jobs… the truth is that corruption is in the culture. Let’s do our part to push back on our culture, those bad habits.)
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