Pasig city: Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Thursday filed an election offense complaint against Cezarah Rowena "Sarah" Discaya, a contractor implicated in allegedly anomalous flood control projects. In a complaint-affidavit submitted to the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) in Intramuros, Manila, Sotto accused Discaya, his former rival in the mayoral race, of violating Section 100 of the Omnibus Election Code by exceeding the permissible campaign spending and making false declarations in her Statement of Contributions and Expenses (SOCE) for the May 2025 elections.
According to Philippines News Agency, Sotto highlighted that Discaya's SOCE reported total expenses of PHP895,000, attributed solely to 'stationery, printing and distribution of printed materials' related to her candidacy. However, the evidence provided in the complaint indicated that digital advertisements allegedly paid for by or donated to Discaya, along with outdoor political ads and billboards, were not declared. Sotto noted that Discaya failed to report any expenses or contributions for billboard site rentals. He also submitted screenshots of a digital advertisement marked as 'donated by the Chicco Francisco family,' which was not included in Discaya's SOCE. Another advertisement, claiming to be 'paid by Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya,' was similarly unreported.
The campaign period spanned from March 28 to May 10, 2025. As a party-affiliated candidate, Discaya was permitted to spend PHP3 per registered voter, totaling up to PHP1,391,655 for the 463,885 registered voters in Pasig. Sotto emphasized that allowable expenses encompass contributions made on a candidate's behalf. He pointed out that Comelec has the authority under Section 100 of the Omnibus Election Code to assess expenses based on local prevailing rates and incorporate such assessments into the total expenses incurred by the candidate.
Sotto argued that Discaya's political advertisements were widespread during the months and days leading up to the 2025 elections. Consequently, he suggested that the Comelec could determine and assess these advertising expenses from its records. Additionally, Sotto filed a separate perjury complaint, challenging Discaya's eligibility declaration for Pasig mayor while allegedly asserting British citizenship through a British passport after filing her Certificate of Candidacy.
Sotto stated that he filed the complaints 'as a concerned citizen, seeking only to preserve the integrity of the electoral system.' The Macalintal Law Office, led by election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, assisted Sotto in filing the complaint.
