Pasig mayor slaps overspending complaints vs Discaya

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto filed a formal complaint Thursday with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against his former mayoral rival, contractor Sarah Discaya, alleging campaign overspending and perjury during the 2025 midterm elections.

Sotto personally submitted the documents to the Comelec Political Finance and Affairs Department, accompanied by his election attorney, Romulo Macalintal. The complaint stems from Discaya’s reported financial declarations following their recent electoral contest.

The mayor is seeking charges against Discaya for allegedly violating the Omnibus Election Code by exceeding authorized campaign spending limits.

He also accused her of violating the Revised Penal Code by “knowingly making false and material statements under oath” in her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SoCE).

“I think these are clear and blatant violations of election law,” Sotto said in a statement. “I don’t want to do this, but we want everyone in Pasig City to abide by the law. You need to obey the election laws.”

Sotto recently secured a victory in the mayoral race, which allows him to serve his third and final consecutive term as the city’s chief executive. Despite his win, Sotto stressed that the legal action was necessary to ensure accountability in the electoral process.

Discaya, a prominent contractor who challenged Sotto for the seat, has not yet issued a public statement regarding the allegations. Under Philippine law, candidates who exceed spending limits or falsify their SoCEs can face disqualification from holding public office or imprisonment.

Comelec officials are expected to review the evidence provided by Sotto’s legal team before determining if there is sufficient ground to proceed with a formal investigation.