Vico Sotto’s media magic

Dr. John Chiong, founder of Task Force Kasanag (TFK), in his letter to this column, belies the premature victory claim of Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig City in the case that he (Chiong) filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman, and decries the underhanded manner of its dismissal through a mere letter of a clerk.

TFK chief Chiong, known as “Berdugo Laban Sa Corrupt,” considers the decision on Mayor Sotto’s case unjust.

The following is his letter in full:

“It has come to public attention — amplified no less by the highly active social media presence of Mayor Vico Sotto — that a supposed ‘victory’ has been attained by him in a case filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by Task Force Kasanag Inc. regarding the demolition of the property under the name of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

“It is important to approach such claims with scrutiny, especially when the facts reveal that the matter is far from resolved and, worse, riddled with procedural irregularities. No court order was issued to authorize the demolition of the structures. The demolition, widely documented and circulated on social media, now stands as primary evidence of wrongdoing committed by the Pasig City Mayor’s Office.

“Yet, the Ombudsman conducted no proper investigation and issued no findings supported by documents. Mayor Vico Sotto’s actions reflect a blatant abuse of power. Engr. Selwyn Lao, a private citizen, was personally targeted, with three warrants of arrest allegedly obtained by the Pasig City Mayor’s Office under the supervision of City Administrator Atty. Manzanero. The lot in question belongs to the BSP, yet no charges were filed against the BSP.

“The document being paraded as a ‘decision’ was a mere two-page letter rather than a formal resolution of a legal issue. It was signed not by a hearing officer or authorized adjudicator of the Ombudsman, but only by the Chief of the Central Records Division, Ms. Caroline A. de Leon.

“This raises a lot of questions: Does the Chief of the Central Records Division possess the legal authority to dismiss a complaint involving serious allegations against a sitting mayor? If so, under what rule or mandate?

If not, then how can such an order be celebrated as a final and lawful vindication? Does Ombudsman Martires know about this? Were there backroom negotiations? The Office of the Ombudsman must address these questions. Why has corruption in the Philippines flourished more than tenfold in the past decade?

“Moreover, the alleged demolition of a structure in Barangay Bambang, Pasig City — the very incident forming the heart of the complaint still exists. Did the Office of the Ombudsman ever conduct a site inspection to verify the allegations?

Did they obtain testimonies from the affected residents or witnesses on the ground? The lack of any indication of such diligence casts a shadow on the credibility of the so-called dismissal and suggests a possible failure to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation as required by the Constitution and the Ombudsman’s own mandate.

“This brings to the fore deeper concerns about our justice system. When positions of power are used not to serve but to silence, not to protect but to impose — the people suffer.

“If Mayor Vico Sotto is truly committed to fairness and justice — as he claims in his public persona — then why does this commitment not extend to all sectors equally? Why target a single structure with immediate force, while turning a blind eye to others, such as the illegal settlers who remain in clear violation of city ordinances? Notably, the whole Brgy. Bambang St. has more than 20 structures protruding over the street without any sidewalk at all.

“Justice must not only be done. It must be seen to be done, transparently and lawfully.

In the spirit of accountability, let us not be swayed by popularity, but remain steadfast in demanding what is just and right,” concluded Dr. Chiong in his letter.

Email: arturobesana@gmail.com