Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Monday called for broader accountability and urged citizens to sustain the fight against systemic corruption following the arrest of government contractor Curlee Discaya.
In a strongly worded statement on his official social media accounts on June 8, 2026, the local chief executive expressed mixed emotions over the development, describing the country's political landscape as disheartening yet showing signs of progress.
"Sana mas marami pa ang makulong (I hope more people get jailed)," Sotto said. "Minsan nakakadismaya na ang mga nangyayari sa ating bansa; iniisip ko na lang na 'at least' kahit papaano, may progreso (Sometimes what is happening in our country is frustrating; I just think that 'at least' somehow, there is progress)."
The Multibillion-Peso Flood Control Scandal
Discaya, a prominent contractor linked to St. Timothy Construction Corp. and several other Pasig-based firms, was served a warrant of arrest by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday for malversation charges. The case stems from the Office of the Ombudsman's investigation into a ₱53.9-million anomalous flood control project in Calumpit, Bulacan. His wife, Sarah Discaya, was previously arrested and remains detained in Cebu over a separate ₱96.5-million "ghost" project.
Mayor Sotto explicitly named high-profile figures allegedly tied to the nationwide flood control controversy, which first imploded during legislative inquiries in late 2025.
"Today, Curlee was arrested. Bukod kay [Martin] Romualdez at Zaldy [Co], maaaring ang mga Discaya na ang may pinakamalaking nakubra sa Flood Control Scandal (Aside from Romualdez and Zaldy, the Discayas may have pocketed the largest amounts from the Flood Control Scandal)," Sotto stated, referring to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co.
The sweeping multibillion-peso scandal involves allegations of "ghost" infrastructure, kickbacks reaching up to 25%, and a tight monopoly where a tiny fraction of accredited builders cornered over ₱100 billion of the nation's flood mitigation budget.
De-Normalizing the Culture of Corruption
Sotto stressed that the problem runs deeper than irregular public works contracts. He warned that the structural loopholes allowing such anomalies will remain vulnerable to exploitation by "evil minds" if public vigilance wavers.
"Pero hindi lang flood control ang pinag-uusapan dito. This is just one example of how evil minds can exploit our broken system. Tomorrow, the same things will happen again, unless we continue to fight and de-normalize corruption."
Refusing to let the public lapse into complacency, the Pasig mayor concluded his statement with a rallying cry for collective citizen engagement and critical awareness.
"So let's keep doing our part. Stay informed, exercise critical thinking, and keep pressuring the government," Sotto said. "Siguraduhin nating hindi tayo magkakalimutan (Let's make sure we do not forget each other)."
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