MANILA, Philippines — It was a busy Monday for Pasig Metropolis Mayor Vico Sotto who was confronted with the first-ever graft grievance filed in opposition to him since he took workplace in 2019 and a gaggle of protesters who later admitted to being from one other metropolis.
The graft grievance, filed by a sure Ethelmart Austria Cruz who recognized himself as a non-public citizen and Pasig resident, was filed within the Workplace of the Ombudsman on Aug. 7.
The complainant accused Sotto of graft, violation of the code of conduct for public officers, grave misconduct, gross neglect of responsibility, conduct prejudicial to the very best curiosity of the service and severe dishonesty.
READ: Vico Sotto unveils plan for brand new Pasig Metropolis Corridor complicated
Additionally named as respondents have been Melanie de Mesa, head of Pasig Metropolis’s Enterprise Allow and Licensing Division, and Jeronimo Nazareno, the town administrator.
Cruz alleged that Sotto granted a 100-percent tax low cost to a telecommunications firm primarily based in Pasig Metropolis regardless of supposed inconsistencies in its paperwork submitted to metropolis corridor.
He stated in his 17-page grievance that the telecommunications firm, Converge ICT Options Inc., “misdeclared” the precise dimension of its workplace capability and the variety of its workers.
Cruz stated the corporate had declared “for tax functions” that it was occupying an workplace area of solely 5 sq. meters with simply 4 workers. However primarily based on inspection studies in 2022, the precise dimension of the workplace was 9,037.46 sqm whereas the variety of workers was 1,901.
MANIC MONDAY Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto had his palms full coping with a graft grievance and protesters who turned out to be from Quezon Metropolis. —Photograph from Fb of Galing Pook
The complainant added {that a} tax order of cost was issued in October 2022 to Converge for a complete quantity of P3,670,340.11, with a complete surcharge of P447,106.77 and curiosity amounting to P979,570.27 “representing deficiencies/delinquencies within the cost of charges and licenses.”
However Cruz claimed that Sotto’s workplace granted a 100-percent low cost on the penalties, “basically eradicating all of the tax penalties due the federal government of Pasig Metropolis.”
Possible trigger
He argued there was “possible trigger” to carry Sotto and the 2 different metropolis officers responsible for “inflicting undue damage and giving unwarranted advantages,” saying it was a violation of the antigraft regulation.
The Inquirer tried to get a remark from Sotto who has but to reply as of this time of writing.
Other than the graft grievance, the Pasig mayor needed to face a gaggle, which stated they have been protesting the development of the brand new metropolis corridor with a price ticket of P9.6 billion.
Nevertheless, whereas talking with the protesters, Sotto stated he discovered they weren’t even his constituents.
Open to queries
In an announcement posted on his official Fb web page, he stated he obtained phrase that round 300 residents would collect in entrance of metropolis corridor, including that he went out to speak to them “as a result of we’re open to any queries” in regards to the development of the brand new constructing.
“Nevertheless, as I went to this so-called ‘rally,’ I discovered that they have been from Quezon Metropolis. They have been even clueless as to why they have been delivered to Pasig,” Sotto added.
He posted a video which confirmed him telling the group: “You probably have any questions, simply ask me as a result of in Pasig, we’re clear right here … We admit that the [amount of the construction] is kind of huge, so it’s okay with me if our folks will ask about it.”
“Who right here is from QC (Quezon Metropolis)? There you go, see,” he later stated, as many of those protesters carrying white shirts raised their palms and commenced to cheer, with one even asking to take an image with him.
Sotto is on his second time period as metropolis mayor though he has but to say whether or not he’ll search a 3rd and final time period subsequent 12 months. He was first elected in 2019.