Sotto: Discaya firm’s past link to poll service provider a DQ ground

From left: Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, Commision on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia, and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto. Sotto gave Garcia a copy of his letter regarding his concerns on the alleged links of election rival Sarah Discaya to election systems provider Miru. PHOTO FROM ATTY. ROMY MACALINTAL

MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist  Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto on Monday formally urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to act against his rival aspirant Sarah Discaya over what he deems as a “conflict of interest” due to her stake in a company formerly linked in a joint venture with the election service provider for the 2025 polls.

In his four-page letter obtained by INQUIRER.net, Sotto said Discaya’s alleged ties to a company that once had a joint venture with a poll service provider can be grounds for her and her running mates’ disqualification in the 2025 elections.

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Sotto, along with election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, formally submitted the letter to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia.

“I write as a citizen and on behalf of those who sincerely desire for transparent and credible elections in 2025,” Sotto said in his letter.

“We hope that the Comelec—through its Honorable Chairman and Commissioners—will act with a sense of justice to ensure the integrity and credibility of the upcoming elections and prevent acts that put the election process in mockery or disrepute, even if it means disqualifying Sarah Discaya and her Running Mates,” he added.

Sotto said Discaya is an owner and chief financial officer of St Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corporation, which, he said, is an “alter-ego” of St. Timothy Construction Corporation.

St Timothy, Sotto said, is among the joint venture partners of Miru Systems Co. Ltd., which is contracted to price the automated election system for the midterm polls.

St. Timothy Construction Corporation withdrew from the Miru Joint Venture earlier this month.

“The existence of such ties will cast doubt on the credibility of the elections,” Sotto said.

“The candidacy of any individual who has ties with companies like St. Timothy—which had a joint venture with Miru—appears to be the appropriate instance where the Comelec may disqualify a candidate,” he added.

Despite the firm’s withdrawal from the joint venture, Sotto noted that the Comelec already made a payment of P2 billion to Miru Joint Venture.

“As the joint venture included St. Timothy, the payments Comelec made could have redounded to the benefit of Sarah Discaya and her running mates,” he said.

Discaya’s running mate for vice mayor is Christian “Iyo” Bernardo, who ran but lost against Sotto for Pasig City’s mayoralty post.

Sotto also said his camp received “credible information” that Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II, Sarah’s husband, is the second nominee of Pinoy Ako party-list.

“The withdrawal of St. Timothy as a Joint Venture partner Miru may no longer save the day for Sara Disaya and her Running Maters and Curlee Discaya,” Sotto said.

“Instead, such withdrawal may constitute an admission of the presence of a serious conflict of interest should Sarah Discaya pursue her candidacy,” he added.

Discaya’s camp shrugged off Sotto’s statements.

“That’s their opinion, then they wrote to the Comelec. Let’s wait for the Comelec to answer,” said Atty. Raymund Mendoza in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net in Filipino.

“For us, we will just continue what we are doing, we don’t have extra plans. Comelec will answer that,” he added.

Macalintal said the Comelec en banc will tackle this issue in their regular Wednesday session.