Vico Sotto faces another graft rap over undistributed cash allowance

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and three other city officials are facing a complaint for graft and violating the Government Procurement Reform  Act over the alleged undistributed cash allowance for Pasig City Hall employees.

In a 28-paged complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman last July 30, 2024, Pasig resident Michelle  Prudencio accused Sotto, Human Resources Development Office head Elvira  Flores, City Administrator Jeronimo Manzanero, and Bids and Awards  Committee head Josephine Bagaoisan of failing to distribute the P1,500  allowance to Pasig City Hall employees for the 451st “Araw ng Pasig” on  July 2, 2024.

The complaint further states that instead of the cash allowance, the employees were given commemorative t-shirts allegedly acquired without a proper procurement process.

Sotto issued Executive Order (EO) No. 28 dated June 27 through which a grant of allowance was issued to acquire/purchase the commemorative shirts for the 2024 Araw ng Pasig celebration.  

The EO also stated that Pasig City Hall employees were informed of the schedule of the release and distribution of t-shirts on June 28 and 29.

However, during the first scheduled distribution of the t-shirts, no cash allowance was given.

“Instead of receiving the cash allowances, employees were given t-shirts during the scheduled distribution and were forced to execute Acknowledgement  Receipts to make it appear that they received their cash allowances,”  the complaint reads.

The complaint also alleged that there was no competitive bidding for the acquisition of the t-shirts that were worth P17.2 million.

“There was no advertisement or posting of any bid invitation for the procurement of the 'Araw ng Pasig' t-shirts. This blatant disregard for  the legal requirement of the procurement process suggests either gross negligence or intentional circumvention of established rules,” the complaint further reads.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Sotto on the matter, but neither the mayor nor his representatives had responded as of posting time.

Other complaints were filed against Sotto and two other city officials over  the alleged illegal grant of discount to telecommunications provider  Converge. 

Sotto said the filing of complaints against him is part of the dirty tactics of some political groups

"This is not the first time. Notice the interesting timing of this—at the  same time that certain political groups are ramping up their political  activities," the Pasig mayor said. — DVM, GMA Integrated News