Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said on Monday that criminal and civil cases are to be pursued against a businessman for demolishing the houses of illegal settlers in Pasig without permit—as he claims in the viral video of their heated argument that is circulating in the social media.
In the viral video that was posted by the Sakto News website, the mayor was seen in an intense debate with businessman Selwyn Lao who has repeatedly tried to erect a building where the shanties are located in Barangay Bambang without permit from the local government.
“Ano po gusto ninyong mangyari dito? Gusto ‘nyo makulong kayo? O mumurahin mo rin ako gaya ng pagmumura mo sa tao ko? (What do you want to happen? Do you want to be arrested? Or will you cuss at me in the same way you cussed at my people?)” Sotto asked Lao in the video.
“Alam mo ba kung ano’ng nangyari dito (Do you know what happened here)?” Lao then asked Sotto.
“Oo, alam ko. Sinubukan mong mag-demolish nang may tao sa loob ng bahay (Yes, I know. You tried to demolish houses while people are still inside),” Sotto fired back.
Lao denied Sotto’s allegations and claimed that the slums in their property are “drug dens”. However, the mayor said that the illegal demolition was caught on video. Sotto also said that they have no right to demolish as they have no court order that authorizes them to do so.
“May karapatan ka bang mag-demolish? Eh bakit hindi ka tumawag ng pulis? (Do you have the right to demolish? Why didn’t you call the police?)” Sotto asked the businessman. “Sir, kahit totoo iyang sinasabi niyo, PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) ka ba? PNP (Philippine National Police) ka ba? (Sir, even if what you’re saying is true, are you from PDEA? Are you from PNP?)”
Sotto also added that the container vans and cranes used for Lao’s construction are left blocking the public road and has ruined the pavement.
Lao insisted that the illegal settlers living in their property sell drugs and that the children inside are just there to prevent the demolitions.
Lao also said that the mayor should also listen to him because he is a taxpayer and his constituent and he also claimed that the mayor is being biased, however, Sotto pointed out that Lao did not secure a permit from the local government to start their demolition.
“As a government official, I will treat things fairly. Kung walang permit, hindi puwedeng mag-construction (If there is no permit, there should be no construction),” said the Pasig mayor.
Sotto stated in his official Twitter page that “criminal and civil cases are being prepared” against the Filipino-Chinese businessman.
“Lahat nang ito ay idadaan sa tamang proseso. Kung may kailangan managot, mananagot. Kung may kakasuhan, may kakasuhan tayo (Everything will undergo the right procedure. If someone has to be responsible, they will have to answer. If we have to file a case, we will file a case,” Sotto said while requesting for the cranes to be removed from the street.