Vico: No election-related materials on public properties

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto has ordered the removal of all election-related materials, including his own tarpaulins, from public properties in thecity.

Sotto on Friday shared on Twitter a copy of a memorandum signed by city administrator Jeronimo Manzanero bearing his directive.

The memorandum said the “display or posting or posters, tarpaulins, ribbons and other related materials for political campaign and/or for commercial purposes on city-owned properties is strictly prohibited unless expressly allowed by the city government in compliance with the 2017 Pasig Revised Penal Code.”

“I instructed our personnel through the city admin to remove election-related materials posted in public property. Kahit tarp ko pa ‘yan,” Sotto said.

Election-related materials that are posted on private properties are exempted. Sotto said people may report it if local government personnel remove materials from their properties.

Food over decorations

Meanwhile, Sotto disputed the claim of his rival, former mayor Bobby Eusebio, that the Yuletide spirit is now longer felt in Pasig due to the lack of Christmas lights and decorations.

“Meron naman. Hindi lang siguro siya nakakaikot (There are. Perhaps he hasn’t gotten around),” he said in an interview clip posted on ABS-CBN News.

Sotto admitted there are fewer decorations and lights in Pasig as they opted to buy more Christmas food packs for residents.

Unlike before where only households close to the officials at city hall received food packs, Sotto said all families in Pasig’s 30 barangays now have gifts from the local government.

“Yun ‘yung hinahanap din ng tao eh. Ako bilang mayor kung ano ‘yung mas gusto ng tao ‘yun ang binibigay natin (That is what the people look for. As mayor, I give the people what they want) using their funds,” he said.