Vico says Pasig firm tied to ex-AES partner; company denies

The owners of St. Timothy Construction Corp., which backed out of the joint venture to supply automated election systems in Eleksyon 2025, and that of a Pasig City construction company are the same, Mayor Vico Sotto has said.

Sotto said that the owner of St. Gerrard Construction has plans to run for mayor in the city. An executive of the firm has denied the allegation.

According to Chino Gaston's report on "24 Oras," the Commission on Elections has said that the remaining partners in the joint venture will have to answer for STCC's obligations.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said the commission would look into whether or not they have something to be accountable for legally.

The Comelec has reportedly received information that STCC's owners plan to run for local and national positions.

Following the commission's announcement, Sotto posted on social media that the same people were behind STCC and St. Gerrard and were planning to run in the elections in Pasig.

He said the companies had the same business address and incorporators.

"Thank you, Chairman Garcia and Comelec, for acting to preserve the integrity of our elections. But let's remain on guard. They are planning to file their candidacy in Pasig," Sotto said.

"Imagine being a financier/contracting party for Comelec's automated election machines, and running in the same elections? Hindi ko maunawaan kung paano nila naisip na OK lang 'yon," he added.

Pacifico Discaya II, the owner of St. Gerrard, said they were shareholders in STCC but added that they had divested from the latter. 

He said there was also a time when STCC rented a space in their building.

Asked if there were people from the company planning to run in the elections, Discaya said, "Ngayon po, napakaraming tumutulak sa kanya na tumakbo. Napakaraming humihingi ng tulong." 

(Right now, many are pushing her to run. Many people are asking for help.)

"Naramdaman namin na parang baka ginagawa ni Mayor Vico ito sa amin para i-provoke kami na tumakbo para magkaroon siya ng kalaban," Discaya said.

Discaya's wife Sara once announced that she would run for mayor in Pasig.

He said Sotto could be getting back at them because the mayor thought St. Gerrard backed another candidate in 2019. —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA Integrated News