Mayor Vico Sotto shares he has ‘good relationship’ with uncle Sen. Tito Sotto

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has shared that he has a “good relationship” with his uncle, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

In an exclusive interview on “Quarantined with Howie Severino” Tuesday, Vico shared: “We have a good relationship. I respect him a lot. He’s someone who has a lot of experience.”

Although they don’t speak with each other often because of their busy schedules, Vico said that when they do talk, he learns a lot of things from the senator.

“He gives me some advice. Sometimes I ask, sometimes unsolicited but I appreciate it very much,” the mayor shared.

Just last March, Vico tangled with national authorities when he allowed tricycles to operate in Pasig despite the ban on public transportation due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.

When the National Bureau of Investigation summoned Vico on alleged violation of the country’s COVID-19 response law, his senator uncle was quick to speak up and defend him. 

Vico acknowledged that the Sotto family had long been involved in politics, especially since his uncle is in the Senate, but he clarified that his election win in Pasig City came about not because he was part of a political dynasty.

“Para sa akin kumbaga hindi naman pamilya ko ’yong pinalitan ko dito. We started a movement from the ground up here in Pasig,” he explained.

However, Vico shared that no one should be discouraged from running just because one family member was in politics.

“Should families self-inhibit just to say na, ‘Ay hindi, teka may tito ako na senador. Siguro dapat hindi ako tumakbo.’ Ganoon ba dapat? Ang mangyayari noon, ang mga mabubuti ang intensyon, mawawala sa pulitika, maiiwan ’yong mga political dynasty na corrupt,” he said.

“What really needs to be done is for Congress to pass a law na malinaw ’yong, enabling law for the constitutional provision against political dynasty. ’Yon lang talaga ang solusyon doon,” he added. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News