Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto is hardly active in show business these days, but any pronouncement he makes — especially about the Discayas’ alleged involvement in the “Floodgate” controversy — inevitably lands on entertainment websites.

Vico earlier alleged that the Discayas paid vloggers Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao P10 million each to feature them in their respective vlogs. In those vlogs, the Discayas revealed that their immense wealth began after winning public biddings as contractors for projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Vico became familiar with the Discayas after Sarah Discaya, the wife, ran against him for mayor in the 25 May elections — and lost by a landslide.

Soon after Vico’s allegations involving prominent vloggers, the Discayas were exposed as DPWH contractors behind defective flood control projects, despite several of their companies continuing to secure DPWH contracts. The Discayas later admitted that their firms were prioritized in public biddings because they allegedly delivered millions in cash to DPWH officials, as well as to several senators and congressmen.

And Vico is not backing down.

He recently posted a lengthy video on Facebook warning the public not to be swayed by the Discayas’ claim that they are “small fish na biktima lang (merely victims).” 

Entertainment site PEP.ph reported on Vico’s post on 20 December.

The Pasig City mayor said:

“Una, sana mas marami pang mahuli at mapanagot. Pero isipin na lang natin six months ago, ni hindi natin alam na ganito na pala kagrabe yung nangyayari sa DPWH projects (First, hopefully more people will be caught and held accountable. But think about it — six months ago, we didn’t even know that what was happening in DPWH projects had already become this severe).”

“Six months ago, akala ng mga Discaya at ng marami pang iba na wala nang makakagalaw sa kanila… impunity (Six months ago, the Discayas and many others thought that no one could touch them anymore impunity).”

He then appealed to the public:

“Pangalawa, wag sana nating kagatin ang propaganda ng mag-asawang Discaya na sila ay small fish o biktima lamang (Second, let us not swallow the propaganda of the Discaya couple that they are merely small fish or victims).”

“Sabi ng AMLC, mahigit P180 billion ang pumasok sa mga bank account nila. Apat sa siyam na kompanya pa lang nila ang pinag-uusapan natin (According to the AMLC, more than P180 billion flowed into their bank accounts. We are only talking about four out of their nine companies).”

“Kung susuriin natin nang mabuti, hindi lang sila basta kontraktor. Sila ay naging tagapagpasimuno (If we examine this closely, they were not just ordinary contractors. They became prime movers).”

Vico then dropped another bombshell:

“Hindi lang isang administrasyon ang dinanaanan nila. Lagi nilang pinupuntahan yung mga congressman, nagpapa-meeting ng chief of staff, tapos pinipresenta nila yung mga available na DPWH budget, lantarang nag-aalok ng advance, porsyento, SOP… (They went through more than one administration. They would constantly approach congressmen, request meetings with chiefs of staff, then present available DPWH budgets — openly offering advances, percentages, SOPs).”

The young mayor also addressed the alleged involvement of the Discaya children:

“Pangatlo, sabi ni Madam Sarah, ‘Paano yung mga anak ko?’ Sana naisip niyo iyan bago niyo dinamay ang mga anak ninyo sa mga kalokohan ninyo (Third, Madam Sarah says, ‘What about my children?’ I hope you had thought of that before dragging your children into your wrongdoing).”

The Discaya couple named their companies after their children, disguising them with saintly names such as St. Gerrard, St. Timothy and St. Matthew.

The children were barely of legal age when their parents made it appear that they had purchased the companies named after them — thereby entangling them in the alleged scams those firms were involved in.

Vico revealed:

“Si Matthew, Matthew Carl, binili ang St. Matthew Corporation at 18 years old noong 2022, sa halagang P245 million. Hindi bababa sa P17 billion ang naging infra projects na nito (Matthew, Matthew Carl, bought St. Matthew Corporation at 18 years old in 2022 for P245 million. It already had no less than P17 billion worth of infrastructure projects).”

About the eldest child, Vico said:

“Si Gerrard William Francisco, 18 years old noong 2021, nagparehistro ng Way Maker One Person Corporation. Fifty million pesos ang authorized capital stock, 12 million pesos paid-up capital (Gerrard William Francisco, 18 years old in 2021, registered Way Maker One Person Corporation, with P50 million authorized capital stock and P12 million in paid-up capital).”

“Noong 2023 alone, naka-three billion pesos ito. Property, ibang usapan pa iyan (In 2023 alone, it already reached P3 billion. Properties are a separate matter altogether).”

Vico directly addressed the parents:

“Mister and Misis Discaya, hindi lang kayo nagnakaw. Tinulungan at tinuruan ninyo ang mga anak ninyong magnakaw (Mr. and Mrs. Discaya, you didn’t just steal. You helped and taught your children how to steal).”

He added:

“Sana magsisi sila at magsabi ng buong katotohanan (I hope they repent and tell the whole truth).”

“Pero sa nakikita natin, wala talaga silang pagsisisi. Patuloy pang nagsisinungaling, paiba-iba ang kuwento (But from what we see, they have no remorse. They keep lying, constantly changing their story).»

“Buti na lang una na nilang ipinangalandakan ang nakaw nila kaya halata tuloy sila ngayon (It’s a good thing they initially bragged about what they stole—now their lies are obvious).”

Vico also disclosed alleged attempts at blackmail:

“Dalawang congressman na ang nagkuwento sa akin na humihingi sila ng pera kapalit ng hindi pagsama sa kanila sa listahan (Two congressmen have already told me that they were asked for money in exchange for not being included in a list).”

“Ilan na rin ang nagkuwento na tinatakot pa rin nila ang mga dati nilang empleyado para hindi tumestigo laban sa kanila. Blackmail (Several people have also said they continue to threaten former employees so they won’t testify against them. Blackmail).”

He appealed to the public:

“’Wag tayong tumigil. Patuloy nating gawin ang lahat ng makakaya natin para mapanagot ang dapat managot (Let us not stop. Let us continue doing everything we can to hold those accountable who must be held accountable).”

When entertainment journalists wrap up the Top Stories of 2025, they will likely include Vico’s exposés — even though he is neither an actor nor a comedian, but a public servant born into showbiz and political clans.

Ironically, one of the Discayas’ construction companies also botched a building intended for the Film Academy of the Philippines and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, which was supposed to be occupied this year but wasn’t. That exposé came not from Vico, but from FDCP Chair Joey Javier Reyes himself.

It is hopeful to believe that Filipinos will survive the damage caused by corrupt politicians, government officials and contractors devoid of conscience. Years from now, films may well be made about the monsters — and the saviors — of this era.