Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The complaints against Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas before the Office of the Ombudsman are mere “political attacks” in light of the 2025 elections, a group of local chief executives said.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Mayors for Good Governance said they support Sotto, Teodoro, and Treñas who are part of the group.
“The Mayors for Good Governance express full support and confidence in our conveners, Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, as well as Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas,” the group said.
“The complaints filed against them with the Ombudsman are an opportunity for the truth to come out and for their names to be cleared. However, we cannot disregard the possibility that these actions are politically motivated, especially with the Filing of Candidacies for the 2025 elections approaching,” it added.
In early August, a private citizen filed a case against Sotto before the Office of the Ombudsman, accusing him of graft, violation of the code of conduct for public officials, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and other violations for supposedly giving a 100-percent tax discount to a telecommunications company in Pasig City despite supposed inconsistencies in its documents.
READ: Pasig mayor faces first graft case since 2019
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Sotto is facing a second graft complaint for supposedly not distributing a one-time P1,500 cash allowance to city hall employees and allegedly handing out t-shirts instead.
READ: Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto faces second graft complaint
Teodoro, meanwhile, was accused of committing technical malversation for allegedly misallocating P130 million in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation funds.
READ: Marikina mayor, three others face technical malversation rap
The complaint against Treñas, on the other hand, is related to the demolition of the historic Iloilo City public market, popularly known as Central Market.
He is also facing grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming, and conduct prejudicial to the public interest complaints before the Ombudsman.
READ: Iloilo City mayor faces rap over market demolition
According to the group, the three local chief executives have demonstrated transparency and accountability.
“As a movement that advocates for good governance and the fight against corruption, we always prioritize transparency and accountability. These three mayors have demonstrated and continue to embody these principles,” the Mayors for Good Governance said.
“We hope that the investigation will be fair and that, in the end, what is right and just will prevail. We will continue to stand firm, fight against wrongdoings, and promote what is best for the Filipino people,” it added. With reports from Arianne Denisse Cagsawa, trainee