Mayor Vico Sotto announced that administrative charges are now underway and criminal cases are being prepared against several allegedly corrupt barangay officials in Pasig City.
"Admin cases have been initiated against a number of barangays and criminal cases are being prepared as we speak," the mayor made the statement in his State of the City Address (SOCA) on October 13.
He emphasized his administration’s commitment to extend its “good governance” crusade, which was first implemented at the city level in 2019 down to the barangays.
“Kung meron tayong maipagmamalaki ng mga Pasigueno, ito po yung nailatag na natin yung mga pundasyon para sa mas mabuting pamamahala,” he said.
Sotto admitted that his administration had initially focused on cleaning up the city government, leaving barangay-level oversight somewhat neglected.
However, with the full support of the city council now in place, the mayor warned local officials against using political “backers” within Commission on Audit (COA) to evade accountability.
“Marami sa opisyales natin sa barangay alam na po natin kung ano ang ginagawa. Huwag kayong magmamalaki sa akin na malakas kayo kay COA Commissioner [Mario] Lipana. Gagawin natin kung ano ang tama sa lungsod ng Pasig,” Sotto said
Sotto name-dropped COA Commissioner Mario Lipana, alleging that Lipana’s son has been acting as a “financier” for some barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders in the city.
“Akala niyo hindi ko alam mga sinasabi ng iba sa sagot ako ni Commissioner dahil yung tao niya siya yung nagfa-finance. Huwag na tayong magpatumpik-tumpik pa, yung anak niya nagfa-finance, mga barangay at sa SKs,” he said.
“Enough is enough,” Sotto added.
The mayor reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, saying that good governance must reach every level of local government.
Sotto also commended several barangays that have shown exemplary service, while urging others to follow suit.
“Hinihikayat ko po ang ating mga barangay officials. Mag-ayos-ayos naman po tayo.Hindi ko po nilalahat. Marami na ako nakita ng mga barangay na maayos, maganda ang serbisyo. Pero huwag na rin po tayong maglupahan,” he said.
Meanwhile, COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba confirmed that the Office of the Ombudsman is already investigating Commissioner Lipana, who has been linked into anoumalous flood control scandal.
