The flood-control hearings before the Senate’s Blue Ribbon Committee have ignited fierce debate — and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto isn’t holding back. In his latest statement, he called out glaring inconsistencies and insisted: this is not over until someone pays the price.

A Call to Action, Not Just Condemnation
Mayor Sotto’s message was clear: we cannot let these hearings fade into the background. He emphasized that authorities must seize the moment to ensure those involved are held responsible — otherwise, history will repeat itself. He warned that contractors, politicians, and government officials must be investigated — failure to do so guarantees the same cycle over and over. Accountability, he stressed, is non-negotiable.

Questionable Testimonies from Sarah Discaya
Much of Sotto’s critique centers on Sarah Discaya’s testimony during the hearing. Initially, she claimed to have divested from eight of nine companies yet later admitted she still had ownership. Then, in a further twist, she downplayed involvement by calling herself only a “part-owner.” Such contradictions, Sotto noted, are unacceptable — they reflect not confusion, but evasion.

He didn’t stop there. The testimony of Ma. Roma Discaya Rimando — who declared an income of ₱30,000–₱40,000 monthly yet reportedly managed a company with ₱887 million in paid-up capital — raised more questions. Sotto called it a textbook case of dummy ownership, with employees and relatives fronting for the real players behind the companies tied to flood control contracts.

Pressing for Broader Accountability
Sotto pushed for a broader scope of the probe. He asked: are contractors giving up to 40% in advance to politicians as part of some unwritten “SOP”? He didn’t only want the contractors called in — he wants DPWH officials in the hot seat too.

He even urged the Senate to summon Curlee “Great Pacific” Discaya, Sarah’s husband, whom he described as both the campaign spokesperson and the likely brains behind the flood-control project maneuvering. After all, if someone appears to know more than the speaker, that voice needs to be heard.

A Parallel Investigation in Pasig
Sotto isn’t waiting on Senate decisions. He made it known that Pasig City government is running its own parallel investigation — tracking the same contractors and filing criminal and administrative actions where warranted. Projects linked to the Discaya group are being examined not just for irregularities, but also for illegal structures and unpaid taxes.

Sotto urged calm amidst growing protests against Discaya-related sites, noting that reckless actions can endanger not just public order, but innocent workers and rallyists themselves. The momentum, he said, is on the side of truth—but must be pursued with caution and purpose.

Will the System Change This Time?
Mayor Sotto warned that without tangible consequences — prosecutions, firings, and charges — these hearings will end up as performative media spectacles. People deserve real reform, not reruns of the same ghost projects, phony ownership, and political undercutting.

He’s demanding not just transparency, but transformation. If the Senate and government agencies respond, this could mark a turning point. If they don’t, at least we’ll know where the line has been drawn — and whose side we’re really on.

But for now, Vico Sotto is making one thing abundantly clear: talk is cheap. What the nation needs is decisive action — and justice.