Vico Sotto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vico Sotto
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Official portrait, 2025
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| 12th Mayor of Pasig | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2019 |
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| Vice mayor |
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| Preceded by | Bobby Eusebio |
| Member of the Pasig City Council from the 1st District | |
| In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2019 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Victor Ma. Regis Nubla Sotto
June 17, 1989 Quezon City, Philippines |
| Political party | Independent (2015–2018; since 2022) |
| Other political affiliations |
Aksyon (2018–2022) Giting ng Pasig (since 2021) |
| Education | Brent International School (secondary) |
| Alma mater | Ateneo de Manila University (AB, MPM) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Signature |  |
| Parent(s) | Vic Sotto (father) Coney Reyes (mother) |
| Relatives | Sotto family LA Mumar (half-brother) |
Victor Ma. Regis "Vico" Nubla Sotto (born June 17, 1989) is a Filipino politician. He has been the mayor of Pasig City since 2019. Before becoming mayor, he was a member of the Pasig City Council from 2016 to 2019.
Vico Sotto is part of the well-known Sotto family. He studied political science at the Ateneo de Manila University. He started his political journey in 2016 as an independent candidate for city councilor.
He became widely known in 2019 when he won the mayoral election. He defeated Mayor Bobby Eusebio, ending the Eusebio family's 27-year leadership in Pasig. Vico Sotto ran on a platform focused on fighting corruption and improving city services. His time as mayor has been praised for how his government handled the COVID-19 pandemic in Metro Manila.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Vico Sotto was born on June 17, 1989. His parents are famous actors Vic Sotto and Coney Reyes. Even though his parents were celebrities, Vico preferred to stay out of the spotlight. He showed an interest in government from a young age.
He went to Brent International School for most of his grade school and high school years. In 2011, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the Ateneo de Manila University. Later, in 2018, he completed a Master of Arts in Public Management from the Ateneo School of Government. Before entering politics, Vico Sotto also taught social science at Arellano University for a semester.
Start in Politics
Vico Sotto was elected as a member of the Pasig City Council in 2016. He served one term before becoming mayor in 2019. As an independent councilor, it was sometimes hard for him to pass new laws.
He focused on creating "The Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance." This law made it easier for ordinary citizens to ask for public records. These records include financial documents and contracts. This was the first local version of a freedom of information law in Metro Manila.
Pasig Mayoral Campaigns
2019 Mayoral Election
Vico Sotto ran for mayor of Pasig in the 2019 Pasig local elections. His campaign focused on what he called the "Big V" (Big Five) Agenda. This plan aimed to improve healthcare, housing, education, public involvement, and anti-corruption efforts.
He promised to make sure public health facilities had enough medicine. For housing, he wanted every family in Pasig to own a home. He also promised to make it easier for students to get scholarships. To fight corruption, he planned to set up a special commission and a hotline. He also wanted non-government groups to watch over government projects.
Sotto also promised that the city government would ask for public opinion before making big decisions. He wanted all government projects to be open and clear, from planning to checking their success. He believed that decisions should be based on facts and data, not on personal favors.
Vico Sotto won the election, defeating the long-time mayor Bobby Eusebio. This ended the Eusebio family's 27-year leadership in Pasig.
2022 Mayoral Election
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In 2019, Sotto joined Aksyon Demokratiko, a national political party. He chose this party because he believed in its goals. These goals included freedom of information and ending political dynasties.
In July 2021, Sotto announced he would run for reelection as Pasig mayor. He chose Robert Jaworski Jr. as his running mate for vice mayor. They ran together under the Giting ng Pasig (Bravery of Pasig) group. They won the election, defeating the other candidates. Six months after his re-election, Sotto left Aksyon Demokratiko. He explained that the party's goals no longer matched his own.
Mayor of Pasig (since 2019)
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Vico Sotto became the 12th mayor of Pasig on June 30, 2019. His first order as mayor was to create a task force for traffic management. This group was asked to find new ways to improve traffic in the city. He also ended the Pasig odd-even coding scheme. This scheme had added to the existing traffic rules, making it harder for drivers.
Supporting Protesters
In July 2019, news reports showed Sotto visiting protesters. These people were being moved away from their protest area outside a factory. He reminded the company that the protesters had the right to protest peacefully.
In November 2019, Sotto stepped in again during another protest. This time, workers were arrested after clashing with security guards. Sotto asked the company to drop the charges against its employees. He said, "These people are not criminals; they are fighting for what they believe to be just." He also helped raise money to bail out the arrested workers.
COVID-19 Pandemic Response
When the first local case of COVID-19 was reported in Pasig in March 2020, Sotto acted quickly. He ordered city officials to follow health guidelines to stop the virus from spreading. This included tracing contacts, organizing response teams, and cleaning public places. He also canceled all public events. On March 15, he declared a state of calamity in Pasig.
During the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, Sotto put a nightly curfew in place. He made sure people's rights were protected. He also set penalties for hoarding essential goods. The city used drones for disinfection and gave out welfare packages. Private buildings were turned into quarantine facilities. Sotto also made sure city hall employees would still be paid during the lockdown.
To prepare for school during the lockdown, Sotto raised money. This money was used to provide tablets and laptops to public school students and their teachers.
Transportation During Lockdown
Sotto's administration also started several transportation projects during the lockdown. Many people praised these efforts. Pasig's buses were used to transport essential workers for free. The "Pasig Bike Share" program lent bicycles to health workers and other frontline staff.
Early in the quarantine, Pasig allowed limited tricycle trips for people with important reasons, like medical appointments. Sotto explained that many residents would face serious health problems if they had no transport. However, the national government insisted that all public transport, including tricycles, be banned. Sotto immediately followed this order.
After this, private companies donated vehicles like electric buses to Pasig. This helped the city offer more free rides. The city also got e-tricycles. These were used to give free transport to Pasig residents who needed to go to the hospital for treatments like dialysis or chemotherapy.
Tricycle Operations Issue
On April 1, 2020, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) summoned Sotto. They claimed he had violated a new law by allowing tricycles to operate. Sotto responded that he had stopped tricycle operations before the law was even passed. His uncle, Senate President Tito Sotto, supported his claim. Other politicians also questioned the NBI's actions. Many people on social media criticized the NBI, and the hashtag "#ProtectVico" became popular worldwide.
Fighting Illegal Businesses
In February 2020, Sotto also received positive attention for his efforts to stop illegal businesses. These businesses were often linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). For example, he ordered the closure of a restaurant that was operating without a permit. This restaurant mainly served POGO employees.
Political Views
Vico Sotto has spoken out against too much political advertising. When a supporter put up a tarpaulin greeting him for his 30th birthday, Sotto asked for it to be removed. He stated that he would discourage such political signs during his term.
He has also said that politicians in the Philippines should not be treated like celebrities.
Awards and Recognition
In 2021, the United States Department of State honored Vico Sotto. He was one of 12 people to receive the International Anticorruption Champions Award. This award recognized his efforts to fight corruption.
Images for kids
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Vico Sotto's signature
