Pasig City Mayor Victor “Vico” Sotto got ahead of speculations, announcing his decision to stay out of the 2028 national elections during the oath-taking ceremony for his last term as mayor.
“(Sa) 2028 hindi ako tatakbo. Ngayon pa lang sinasabi ko na sa inyo. Kaya malaya akong gawin kung anong tingin ko ang tama. Hindi niyo masasabihan na may bahid ng politika,” Sotto said in a speech at the Turnover Ceremony of Incoming Elected Officials Monday morning, June 30.
(In 2028, I will not run as a candidate. I am telling you this early on. So I am free to do what I believe to be right. You will not be able to claim it has been tainted by politics.)
In addition, he said he was ready to reconcile and work with those he had run against for the mayoral seat. He also spoke out against those who have committed tax fraud or evasion, or by any way owed the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and tax offices money, reported RH 52 Edniel Parrosa.
“‘Yung bilyon-bilyong piso ng buwis na utang ninyo sa national at lokal na pamahalaan, bayaran ninyo!” the mayor urged.
(Pay the billions of pesos in taxes you owe to the national and local governments!)
Of the 15 officials sworn in at the ceremony, 11 are incumbent public servants—among them Sotto.
Sotto first won as Pasig mayor in 2019.
