Sarah Discaya qualified to run for Pasig mayor – lawyer

The camp of Pasig City mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya maintains she did not commit any infraction that could lead to her disqualification in the May 12 elections.

Lawyer Edward Gialogo, legal counsel of Discaya, made the statement amid a smear campaign questioning her citizenship.

“Wala pong naging paglabag o mali si Ginang Sarah Discaya na maaaring maging basehan ng anumang disqualification case laban sa kanya,” Gialogo said as he urged the camp of Mayor Vico Sotto to substantiate their claim that she is not qualified to run for any elective post in Pasig or any place in the country.

(There was no violation or wrongdoing committed by Mrs. Sarah Discaya that could serve as a basis for any disqualification case against her.)

Gialogo also said Discaya has never denied that she is a dual citizen and pointed out that she is considered a Filipino-British citizen by birth.

Discaya was born in London where her mother worked as a hotel chambermaid while her father was a waiter. Her parents are Filipinos and are bona fide residents of Pasig City.

“Si Ginang Discaya po ay isang dual citizen by birth. Ibig sabihin, siya ay itinuturing din na British citizen, maliban sa pagiging Filipino, dahil sya po ay nagkataong ipinanganak sa London nung panahon na Filipino OFW pa po ang kanyang mga magulang,” Gialogo said.

(Mrs. Discaya is a dual citizen by birth. This means she is also considered a British citizen, in addition to being Filipino, because she happened to be born in London at a time when her parents were Overseas Filipino Workers.)

Filipinos who carry dual citizenship are not barred by any law to run in Philippine elections, Gialogo said, adding that this has been settled by the Supreme Court in the Gana-Carait vs Comelec case.

“Sa ilalim po ng ating mga umiiral na batas, wala po siyang kailangang gawin pang ibang hakbang upang legal na makalahok sa May 12, 2025 elections bilang kandidato bago o matapos niyang mag file ng kanyang Certificate of Candidacy (COC),” he added.

(Under our existing laws, she is not required to take any additional steps in order to legally participate in the May 12, 2025 elections as a candidate, whether before or after filing her Certificate of Candidacy.)

Gialogo also urged the Sotto camp to stop spreading disinformation to smear Discaya.

“Amin pong hinihikayat si Mayor Vico Sotto na maglabas ng anumang katibayan sa sinasabi niyang paglabag diumano ni Sarah Discaya ng ating mga batas na aniya ay maaaring ika-disqualify nito sa mayoral race ng Pasig City,” he said.

(We are encouraging Mayor Vico Sotto to present any evidence regarding his claims of alleged violations committed by Sarah Discaya that, according to him, could lead to her disqualification in the Pasig City mayoral race.)