Vico Sotto Reaches Out for Handshake With Absent Rival

(SPOT.ph) Campaign season in Pasig City is off to a dramatic start. One moment at the Peace Covenant signing stood out in particular: Mayor Vico Sotto reached out for a handshake... only to shake hands with the air. So what’s going on in that now-viral photo?

During the official Peace Covenant signing at Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish on March 27, Sotto joined fellow candidates in a pledge for a fair and peaceful campaign. The event is a pre-election tradition held before the official campaign period kicks off on March 28. Most mayoral bets were present—except one.

That one just so happened to be Sotto’s opponent, Sarah Discaya, a businesswoman and philanthropist known for supporting medical missions and aid programs for underprivileged communities in Pasig City.

This wasn’t the first time peace talks between the two didn’t go as planned. Discaya had previously proposed a separate peace covenant, which Sotto declined, stating that such initiatives should be organized by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to ensure neutrality. 

“COMELEC hosts this before every election, one day before the campaign period,” Sotto said in a Facebook post. “Kaya hindi na rin ako sumagot sa mga publicity stunt ng kabila na iniimbitihan daw nila ako para mag Peace Covenant... Ang nakapagtataka, yung nagsasabing ayaw ko ng peace convenant ang siya namang hindi nakadalo.”

According to the Pasig City Public Information Office (PIO), the Peace Covenant is more symbolic than mandatory but candidates who attend usually take an integrity pledge and participate in activities like releasing white doves and singing along to unity anthems.

Also read: How Vico Sotto is Winning with Gen Z, Millennials by Slaying Trapo Politics

Vico Sotto vs Sarah Discaya 

Discaya would later explain why she missed the event. In a Facebook post, she apologized for her absence, saying she had fallen ill but still tried to catch up.

“Napakahalaga sa akin ng Peace Covenant na ito... Kahit na may sakit at mabigat ang katawan, pinilit ko pa ring humabol ngayong araw upang makapirma at ipakita ang aking determinasyon na panghawakan ang ating pangakong kapayapaan,” Discaya said. “Pero hindi ko maitatanggi, medyo nakapanghihinayang na hindi ko nagawang makipagkamay sa lahat ng nandoon—isang bagay na talaga namang inaabangan ko!”

The rivalry between Sotto and Discaya had already heated up the day before on March 26, when Discaya accused the local government of relocating her campaign kick-off event without proper notice. She claimed her team had requested to use Plaza Rizal but were instead granted a permit for Caruncho Avenue.

Sotto responded by sharing documents indicating that it was Discaya's camp that applied for Caruncho Avenue, not the other way around. He noted that they had even submitted an application letter, secured a barangay permit for the same location, and even provided a proposed traffic plan for it.

"Kung magkukwento na lang din kayo, ikuwento ninyo nang buo. Dishonesty eh,” Sotto commented on Discaya’s post.

Also read: Pasig City Hall: Vico Sotto on Why They're Rebuilding