JE C.C.
Noontime icon and Eat Bulaga! host Vic Sotto made a striking proclamation during the kickoff event of his son Vico Sotto’s political party, Giting ng Pasig, introducing the incumbent Pasig City Mayor as the “next President of the Philippines.”
The event, held on Friday, March 28, launched Vico’s campaign for his third and final term as mayor in the upcoming May elections.
“Ang susunod na Presidente ng Pilipinas, Mayor Vico Sotto!” Vic Sotto announced to an enthusiastic crowd of Pasigueños, igniting cheers and speculation about his son’s political future.
The veteran comedian lauded the residents of Pasig for championing good governance, stating, “Napatunayan natin sa buong bansa na kaya nating labanan at sugpuin ang korapsyon. Kayo ang aking binabati, kasi kayo ang nagluklok sa magigiting na taong nasa harapan ninyo ngayon.” He credited Pasig as a beacon of integrity and progress in Philippine politics.
Vic urged voters to reject outdated political practices marked by corruption, intimidation, and dishonesty. “Kaya sa darating na Mayo, eh wag na tayong bumalik sa makalumang style ng pulitika—style na bulok! Pulitikang may panunuhol. Pulitikang may pananakot. Pulitikang puro kasinungalingan. Dito na po tayo sa makabagong pulitika, dito sa Pasig,” he said passionately.
He praised Vico’s leadership, noting that Pasig has not only achieved good governance but has elevated it to “very, very good governance.”
Looking toward the May elections, Vic rallied the crowd to sustain their momentum, saying, “Sa darating na Mayo, ipagpatuloy natin ang laban na nasimulan natin dito sa Pasig.”
While his declaration of Vico as a future president stirred excitement, it’s worth noting that Vico, born in 1989, will be 38 years old in 2028—below the constitutional age requirement of 40 for presidential candidates. This means he would be ineligible to run in the next presidential election, making his father’s statement a symbolic or long-term vision rather than an immediate prediction.
Electoral Tensions Rise
Vico Sotto faces a formidable opponent in Sarah Discaya of Team Kaya This in the Pasig mayoral race. The two recently clashed publicly over a social media post by Discaya, who claimed the city government denied her team’s request to hold their campaign kickoff at Plaza Rizal, instead assigning them a traffic-heavy section of Caruncho Avenue. She canceled the event, saying, “We do not aspire to cause traffic and become a burden to the Pasigueño people.”
Vico fired back under her post, accusing Discaya of twisting the narrative. “Why do you have an application letter for Caruncho westbound? Doesn’t your barangay permit from Brgy. San Nicolas say the same? You even submitted a proposed traffic plan,” he wrote, challenging her to provide the full context.
“Kung magkukuwento na lang din kayo, ikuwento po ninyo nang buo. Dishonesty eh,” he added. The exchange has heightened the stakes in what promises to be a closely watched local election.
A Vision Beyond 2028
Since assuming office in 2019, Vico Sotto has transformed Pasig into a model city, earning accolades for his transparent and efficient governance. His father’s endorsement amplifies his current campaign while hinting at a broader political destiny. However, with Vico ineligible to run for president in 2028 due to the age requirement, any presidential bid would likely be deferred to 2034, when he would be 44.
For now, Vico remains focused on securing his final term as mayor, buoyed by his father’s star power and heartfelt backing. Vic Sotto’s vision of his son leading the nation may be years away, but it underscores the family’s ambition and the growing legacy of leadership in Pasig.
As the May elections loom, Pasigueños will decide whether to continue the journey they began with Vico—and perhaps set the stage for a future national spotlight.
