A former Pasig City Hall employee has filed a disqualification case against Mayor Vico Sotto before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), accusing the reelectionist mayor of vote buying through the distribution of student scholarship allowances just days before the 12 May elections.

The complaint, filed by Vic Barral on Friday at the Pasig Comelec office, stems from the distribution of financial aid to scholars from 6 to 8 May at the Tanghalang Pasigueño.

Represented by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who is handling the case pro bono, Barral claims that Sotto’s administration violated the election ban on distributing cash or any benefit that could influence voters.

“The distribution of cash assistance during the 10-day election ban is clear vote-buying,” Topacio told reporters in Filipino. “There are acts that, even if not direct cash-giving, can still influence voters — such as hiring employees, transferring positions, giving food, or in this case, a lump-sum release of funds.”

Topacio argued that the scholarship allowances should have been disbursed much earlier in the year.

“This wasn’t a sudden emergency, like death or medical aid. The city government had this scheduled for January,” he said. “So why was it lumped and released within the 10-day prohibited period? It’s hard not to see the timing as politically motivated.”

Topacio clarified that he is not declaring Sotto guilty but is pushing for the Comelec to investigate the case thoroughly.

“We’re not saying he’s guilty at this point. He has the right to due process. But this is a serious allegation, and we brought it to the proper authority — the Comelec.”

He also emphasized that he is not working for any candidate in Pasig: “I’ve never been connected to any politician here or elsewhere. I’m here as a lawyer responding to a citizen’s complaint.”

Mayor Sotto, in a Facebook post, defended the program, saying the city had obtained clearance from the Comelec as early as 24 March.

“Surely, a regular scholarship program doesn’t qualify as election-related assistance,” Sotto said. “Let’s give our young scholars more credit — they know this doesn’t come from me personally.”