Partido Reporma spokesperson Ace Acedillo on Friday refuted the claim of Pasig Vice Mayor Iyo Caruncho-Bernardo that Mayor Vico Sotto made a show out of his administration on social media.
Acedillo, who is also a resident of Pasig, defended Sotto from the accusations of the city's incumbent vice mayor, citing the local chief executive's efforts in extending aid to residents.
"Hindi po puro palabas ang ating Mayor Vico Sotto. Sabi ko nga po, I have been a resident of Pasig City for the last six years," he said.
(Mayor Vico Sotto is not all show. As I have said, I have been a resident of Pasig City for the last six years.)
"Dito po sa Pasig, 'yung humihingi at hindi nangangailangan pareho pong nabigyan ng ayuda," he added.
(Here in Pasig, those who seek aid and even those who don’t need it are both given aid.)
The spokesperson further defended Sotto saying that it was not true that he single out the Caruncho family in a flag-raising ceremony.
"Wala naman pong siningle out na pamilya doon po sa pagpupuna ni Mayor Vico sa flag-raising ceremony," he added.
(There was no family singled out in Mayor Vico’s criticism during the flag-raising ceremony.)
He expressed his support for Sotto amid a growing row between Pasig's two-highest officials, who have been trading barbs as of late.
Bernardo, who is also running for Pasig mayor this election, accused Sotto of ruining the Caruncho family name.
Sotto, however, brushed this off with a simple reply saying: "Bakit "family's reputation" … May sinabi ba ako tungkol sa pamilya niya?"
(Why ‘family’s reputation’ … Did I say something about his family?)
Elevate discourse
Meanwhile, Acedillo also appealed to the public and local officials to elevate the level of discourse among them instead of mudslinging.
The Partido Reporma spokesperson said that despite being in politics, public servants should allocate their attention to issues and problems instead of mudslinging against each other.
"Ang patakaran po ng ating dalawang tumatakbo na si Ping Lacson bilang pangulo at Tito Sotto bilang bise presidente ay ine-elevate po nila yung diskurso," Acedillo said.
(The policy of our two candidates, namely Ping Lacson for the presidency and Tito Sotto for the vice presidency, is to elevate the discourse.)
"Kahit na tayo ay nasa larangan ng pulitika dapat po hindi natin pairallin ang pagbato-bato ng putik. Sa halip, dapat isyu at mga problema ang pinag-uusapan," he added.
(Even if we are in the field of politics, we should not mudslinging prevail. Instead, issues and problems should be discussed.)
He made the remarks amid the growing tension between the two-highest officials of Pasig City, who are both running for the mayoral spot in the 2022 elections.
The statement was also made in the lead-up to the polls, weeks before the national debates for the election candidates begin.
"Ang paanyaya ko di lamang dito sa Pasig kundi sa iba't ibang local government units ‘yun pong panawagan ng aking dalawang kandidato nai-elevate natin ang diskurso," said Acedillo.
(My reminder not only here in Pasig but also to other local government units is the appeal of our candidates to elevate the discourse.)
"Pag-usapan po natin yung mga problema at isyu hindi 'yung mga personalidad, at hindi po 'yung pagbabato ng putik yung ating inaatupag," he added.
(Let us talk about problems and issues and not personalities. And of course, let us not focus on mudslinging.)
