Ex-partner in poll deal eyes Pasig run

PASIG CITY Mayor Vico Sotto has said the owners of a construction company that withdrew as a partner from the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) joint venture with Miru Systems are running in the city for next year's elections.

"They are planning to file their candidacy in Pasig," Sotto said on his Threads handle Thursday, referring to the executives of St. Timothy Construction Corp.

"Imagine being a financier/contracting party for Comelec's automated election machines, and running in the same elections? Hindi ko maunawaan kung paano nila naiisip na OK lang 'yon (I don't understand how they thought this was OK)," he said.

"Dapat malaman ng tao ang mga bagay na ito. Wala yatang ibang magsasabi kaya ako na lang (The people should be made aware of these things. Nobody else would do it, so I said it myself)," he said.

Sotto's mayoralty will be challenged in the 2025 elections by the wife of the chief executive officer (CEO) of a Pasig construction company, which has had a run-in with the mayor.

Speaking via Viber to The Manila Times on Friday, St. Gerrard General Contractor and Development Corp. CEO Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya II said his wife, Cezarah "Sarah" Discaya, is running for mayor.

She will be the candidate of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s party, and will have former vice mayor Iyo Caruncho as running mate.

"Actually, we had no intention to run, but because we were being provoked ... we thought the Lord is using Mayor Vico to persecute us in Pasig and call us to public office," he said in Filipino.

Discaya accused Sotto of demonizing him.

He said that his company office has not been able to secure a building permit because the mayor was giving them a hard time.

Sotto's office claimed Discaya's firm was a "dummy" of the Eusebio political family that used to dominate Pasig.

He also denied Sotto's claim that he also owns St. Timothy Construction Corp.

Sotto has alleged that it is the people behind the St. Gerrard Construction and Development Corp. were also running St. Timothy.

He said that the two companies have the same address in Barangay Malinao in Pasig, and also have the same incorporators.

Sotto showed a document from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) where the names Curlee and Sarah Discaya are listed as incorporators of St. Timothy Construction Corp.

"This is well known in many circles. The evidence is also overwhelming — the two construction companies have common incorporators, use the same business address; the presidents of both companies even declare the same residential address," Sotto said.

He added that the company has a "questionable" track record as a government contractor, and was suspended by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for submitting a fake tax clearance certificate.

On Thursday, Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced that St. Timothy Construction Corp. has withdrawn from their joint venture with Miru Systems.

On Friday, several prominent political personalities filed their certificate of candidacy (CoC) for next year's elections.

Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar-Genuino filed her CoC for senator.

"I strongly believe that I can contribute towards new politics in our country. My values are rooted in the principles of hard work and perseverance that I learned from my parents," she told reporters.

Villar served two terms as representative of the lone district of Las Piñas and also served as a deputy speaker at the House of Representatives.

Her mother, Cynthia Villar, has ended her term as senator and will run for her daughter's congressional seat.

Her brother, Mark Villar, is also a sitting senator.

Makati Mayor Mar-len Abigail Binay-Campos, sister of outgoing Sen. Nancy Binay, filed her CoC for senator. Nancy, meanwhile, filed her CoC for Makati mayor.

Abigail Binay said she wants to focus on the improvement and expansion of social programs in health and education, as well as stronger local governments that are resilient and sustainable.

She also said she has "no issue" with Sen. Pia Cayetano, despite their disagreements over the turnover of the so-called EMBO villages from Makati and Taguig.

Binay also confirmed that her husband, Makati 2nd District Rep. Luis Campos Jr., is filing his CoC for Makati mayor on Saturday.

Villar and Binay, as well as Cayetano, are all on the slate of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The senatorial bets of the Makabayan bloc also filed their CoCs.

Makabayan's slate is made up of Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, labor leader Jerome Adonis, Filipino Nurses United Secretary-General Jocelyn Andamo, fisherman Ronel Arambulo, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño, Kadamay Secretary-General Mimi Doringo, Piston National President Mody Floranda, Sandugo Movement of Moro and Indigenous People for Self-Determination co-chairman Amirah Lidasan, former National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Liza Maza, and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas leader Danilo Ramos.

It will be Maza and Casiño's second attempt to clinch a Senate seat.

One of their Makabayan-aligned Party-list, Gabriela, led by former Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago, who is their first nominee, filed their certification of nomination and acceptance for party-list.

"We will continue to advocate for laws that support women and the LGBTQ+ community, such as the Divorce Bill, the Sogiesc Equality Bill, amendments to strengthen the Anti-Rape Law and the Anti-VAWC [Violence Against Women and Children] Law, as well as promoting women's health and enhancing our public health care system," Elago said.

Also on Friday, Jimmy Bondoc, a lawyer, businessman and musician, filed his CoC for the Senate.

Bondoc rose to prominence for his leadership roles at the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp.

Bondoc said he will focus on social welfare, good governance and economic reform.

"As a public servant, I've seen how government revenues can transform lives when managed responsibly," he said. "I want to bring that experience to the Senate and help shape policies that will benefit all Filipinos."