About 100 members of the Akbayan group peacefully dispersed at 10:22 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, following a rally at the gates of the Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction compound in Pasig City, Eastern Police District (EPD) director Brig. Gen. Aden Lagradante said. The protest, which began around 9 a.m., ended without incident. (Photo courtesy of EPD)
Social media movement against the Discaya family’s ostentatious lifestyle gains momentum after Mayor Vico Sotto calls out alleged pay-for-play media schemes, reinforcing calls for accountability and institutional reform.
PASIG CITY, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto urged calm and lawful action following a protest outside St. Gerrard Construction, a company owned by the Discaya family.
On Thursday, demonstrators—including flood victims and activist groups—threw mud and vandalized the company’s gates, expressing outrage over alleged corruption and substandard work in government flood control projects linked to the Discayas. Spray-painted slogans labeled the family as “thieves,” highlighting public frustration with perceived pay-for-play practices.
Mayor Sotto stressed the importance of peaceful advocacy, telling the public, “Let’s not resort to violence.” He assured that the local government is coordinating with national agencies to ensure accountability. “There are no shortcuts,” he added, calling on citizens to pursue justice through lawful means.
The social media movement against the Discaya family’s ostentatious lifestyle gained renewed momentum after Mayor Sotto publicly called out alleged pay-for-play practices by certain media personalities. The spotlight included Sarah Discaya, a former political rival in the 2025 Pasig mayoral race, whose campaign and business dealings have drawn scrutiny. These developments intensified public demand for accountability and institutional reform, with Sotto’s advocacy serving as a catalyst for heightened civic engagement and closer examination of entrenched power networks.
Investigations show that two of the Discaya family’s firms, Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp. and St. Timothy Construction Corporation, are among 15 companies that secured substantial portions of the government’s flood control budget, raising questions about monopolistic practices and the quality of infrastructure delivered.
Adding to scrutiny, the Bureau of Customs has seized 28 luxury vehicles linked to the Discayas, following earlier confiscation of 12 luxury cars during a separate office search. These actions have intensified public focus on the family’s business dealings and alleged corruption.
