Vico Sotto Warns Public: ‘Don’t Bite the Propaganda’ in Discaya Arrest Case
VICO SOTTO – Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto did not mince words after the arrest of Sarah Discaya, publicly calling out what he described as a calculated attempt to play the victim amid serious corruption charges.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto issued strong and direct statements following the arrest of former mayoral rival Sarah Discaya, whom authorities served with two warrants of arrest on December 18, 2025. Discaya was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and for Malversation of Public Funds or Property through Falsification.
The second warrant is linked to an alleged ghost flood control project worth millions of pesos in Davao Occidental. After her arrest, Discaya was flown to Cebu to face the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court. She and her husband, Curlee Discaya, are contractors allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects worth billions of pesos under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Sarah Discaya was also Mayor Vico’s opponent in the May 2025 Pasig City mayoral race, which Sotto won by a landslide, securing his third term as mayor. Sotto was among the first public officials to question Discaya’s alleged anomalous projects, a move that later exposed what became one of the year’s biggest controversies involving DPWH infrastructure projects and several prominent political figures.
On Saturday, December 20, 2025, Mayor Vico released a video statement on his Facebook account reacting to Discaya’s arrest and the wider controversy. “Una, sana mas marami pang mahuli at mapanagot,” he said, acknowledging public frustration over the lack of high-profile accountability but stressing that progress was being made.
Sotto urged the public to remain vigilant and warned against what he described as a “victim narrative” being pushed by the Discaya couple. “Pangalawa, wag sana nating kagatin ang propaganda ng mag-asawang Discaya na sila ay small fish o biktima lamang,” he said, citing the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s finding that more than PHP180 billion allegedly flowed into their bank accounts.
He further alleged that the Discayas were not mere contractors but “tagapagpasimuno,” detailing how they allegedly dealt with lawmakers and DPWH budgets. Sotto also criticized Discaya’s emotional appeals involving her children, saying, “Pangatlo, sabi ni Madam Sarah, ‘Paano yung mga anak ko? Huhu.’ Sana naisip niyo iyan bago niyo dinamay ang mga anak ninyo sa mga kalokohan ninyo.”
Mayor Vico cited alleged business involvement of the Discaya children and questioned the source of massive capital and infrastructure projects registered under their names. His strongest rebuke came when he said, “Mister and Misis Discaya, hindi lang kayo nagnakaw. Tinulungan at tinuruan ninyo ang mga anak ninyong magnakaw.”
Sotto also accused the couple of lacking remorse and of allegedly attempting to blackmail politicians and intimidate former employees. He ended his message with a call for collective action: “’Wag tayong tumigil… We all have something to contribute. Let’s all do our part.”
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