Sotto, Jaworski enjoy landslide victory in Pasig

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto secured a second term with an overwhelming victory against yet another scion of a local political clan, with allies securing almost all of the local posts.

Sotto was proclaimed early yesterday following the canvassing of local votes, earning 335,851 votes and beating his rival, outgoing Vice Mayor Iyo Christian Bernardo, who got 45,604 votes.

Bernardo is the grandson of the late Pasig mayor Emiliano Caruncho Jr., who served for 30 years. He ran unopposed in the 2019 elections as vice mayor with former mayor Bobby Eusebio, whose family’s decades-old rule in the city was ended by Sotto.

Bernardo’s seat as vice mayor will be taken over by Sotto’s running mate, former Pasig congressman Robert Jaworski Jr., who won as vice mayor with 205,250 votes – also a landslide victory against contenders Mario Concepcion (87,716) and Christian Sia (76,028).

Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo – Sotto’s biggest ally in his 2019 bid for mayor – was also reelected to represent the lone district in the House of Representatives with 304,157 votes. He won against Ricky Eusebio, brother of former mayor Bobby, and Rex Maliuanag, who got 54,431 and 3,977 votes, respectively.

Bernardo and other candidates who lost reportedly gathered at midnight Tuesday to protest the results of Sotto’s landslide victory.

Sotto thanked his constituents for a fresh term, vowing to continue local government reforms.

“The voice of Pasig residents were heard loud and clear: the changes we started will continue,” he said.