Pasig City Vice Mayor Iyo Bernardo files bid to challenge Sotto in 2022

MANILA, Philippines — Current Pasig City Vice Mayor Iyo Bernardo has filed his candidacy to run against incumbent Mayor Vico Sotto as mayor of the city in 2022. 

Speaking in an interview aired over ABS-CBN News Channel, Pasig City's No. 2 admitted that challenging the incumbent chief executive would be a tall task but said he would leave it to the voters to decide.

“I am aware of that and I think that’s part of the challenge,” Bernardo said in mixed Filipino and English. "I know that I will be an underdog in this campaign. I guess I will just leave my fate to the people and let them decide."

But the three-time vice mayor said that he came to his decision because he felt that the quality of life for Pasig City residents under the pandemic had not yet gotten better.

"I'm not here to criticize the current administration. I just want to give voters an option," he said. 

On Wednesday, Bernardo spoke of bridging the gap between the rich and the poor in Pasig City, which he realized was only widened by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Asked what alternative platform he could offer voters, Bernardo said: "I've been going around almost every day. I will be a hands-on mayor. I will talk to each and every constituent."

[4/6] KUMBINSIHAN, hindi pagdikta. Kapag may kaibigan tayong nakita niyo sa kabila, 'wag niyong pagalitan o takutin... Di ba kasama sa laban natin ang pag giba ng ganun klaseng politika?

— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) October 6, 2021

Reacting to the news in a series of tweets, Sotto urged his supporters not to engage in mudslinging and reminded them to be careful of fake news circulating on social media.   

"If it's about the job or track record, then sure, let's talk about it. Candidates should really be evaluated carefully. But let's not be personal or rude," he said.  

Bernardo, a politician for over 20 years, was among those linked to former Pasig City Mayor Bobby Eusebio when a group of city officials were slapped with graft charges in 2019. 

He is an ally of the Eusebio clan which had a tight grip on the city's politics for 27 years before Sotto won the post in 2019.