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 12th mayor of Pasig 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 and graduated in 2011. He started his political journey in 2016. He ran as an independent candidate for councilor and won.
He gained a lot of attention in 2019. He won the mayoral election against Mayor Bobby Eusebio. This victory ended the Eusebio family's 27-year leadership in Pasig. Vico Sotto promised to fight corruption and improve local services. His time as mayor has been praised for his government's actions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Metro Manila.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Vico Sotto was born on June 17, 1989. His parents are actor-comedian-host Vic Sotto and actress Coney Reyes. Both are famous celebrities. People expected Vico to appear on TV shows, but he preferred to stay out of the spotlight.
He showed an early interest in government when he was just 10 years old. 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.
In 2018, Vico Sotto received the YSEALI Professional Fellowship Award. As part of this program, he worked at the Iowa Public Information Board. Before entering politics, he also taught social science at Arellano University for one semester.
Starting in Politics
Vico Sotto was elected as a member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) of Pasig in 2016. He served one term as a councilor. He then became Mayor on June 30, 2019.
As an independent councilor, he faced challenges in passing his ideas. He focused on creating "The Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance." This law aimed to make public records, like financial documents, available to citizens. When it passed, it became the first local version of a freedom of information law in Metro Manila.
Becoming Mayor of Pasig
The 2019 Election
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 included better healthcare, housing programs, education, public involvement, and fighting corruption.
He made healthcare his top priority. He wanted to ensure enough medicine in public health centers. For housing, he promised that every family in Pasig could own a home. He also said that the rights of informal settlers would be protected. Sotto also aimed to make scholarship applications easier for students.
To fight corruption, he planned to create a "Government Efficiency and Anti-Corruption Commission." He also wanted a hotline for reporting corruption. He promised that non-governmental groups would watch over the city's bidding processes.
Sotto also promised that all city government decisions would involve public discussions. He wanted transparency in all government projects. This meant sharing information from planning to completion. He also suggested forming special councils for transport and environment.
A key part of his plan was using data to make decisions. He wanted to ensure that services were given based on facts, not on favors. Sotto won the election, defeating the long-serving Mayor Bobby Eusebio. This ended the Eusebio family's 27-year control of the Pasig mayoralty.
Re-election in 2022
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In 2019, Sotto joined Aksyon Demokratiko, a national political party. He was sworn into the party along with other elected officials. 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 re-election as Pasig mayor in the 2022 Pasig local elections. For this election, he chose former Pasig representative Robert Jaworski Jr. as his running mate for vice mayor. They ran under the Giting ng Pasig (Bravery of Pasig) ticket. They won the election, defeating their opponents.
Six months after his re-election, Sotto left Aksyon Demokratiko. He explained that the party members no longer shared the same political goals.
Leading Pasig City
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Vico Sotto became the 12th mayor of Pasig on June 30, 2019. His first action as mayor was to create a Pasig City Traffic Management Task Force. This group was tasked with finding new solutions for traffic problems. He also ended the Pasig odd-even coding scheme. He believed this scheme was unfair and confusing.
Supporting Workers' Rights
In July 2019, Vico Sotto visited workers who were protesting. He reminded the company management that the workers had the right to protest peacefully.
In November 2019, he stepped in again during another worker protest. He asked a company to reconsider charges against its employees. He stated that these workers were not criminals. He believed they were fighting for what they thought was right. He also helped raise money to support the arrested employees.
Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic
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 from the Department of Health and the World Health Organization. This included tracing contacts, organizing response teams, and disinfecting public places. He also canceled all public events.
On March 15, he declared a state of calamity. This was after more cases and a death were confirmed. During the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, he set a nightly curfew. He also made sure essential goods were not hoarded. The city disinfected public areas using drones. They also gave out welfare packages and turned private buildings into quarantine facilities. City hall employees continued to be paid during the lockdown.
To prepare for school during the lockdown, Sotto raised P1.2 billion. This money was used to provide tablets and laptops to public school students and their teachers.
Helping with Transportation During Lockdown
Sotto's administration also launched several transportation initiatives during the lockdown. These were widely praised. Pasig's buses were used to transport essential workers for free. Bicycle units from the "Pasig Bike Share" program were lent to health workers.
Initially, Pasig allowed limited tricycle trips for people with urgent needs, like chemotherapy. Sotto believed this was important to prevent more health problems. However, the national government insisted on banning all public transport, including tricycles. Sotto immediately followed this order.
After this, private companies donated vehicles, like electric buses. These helped increase Pasig's fleet of free rides. The city also acquired e-tricycles. These were specifically used to provide free transport for residents needing medical care, such as dialysis or chemotherapy.
Ensuring Businesses Follow Rules
In February 2020, Sotto also worked to ensure businesses followed city rules. He ordered the closure of a restaurant that was operating without a permit. This action was part of his efforts to make sure all businesses in Pasig operated legally.
His Views on Politics
Vico Sotto has spoken out against certain political practices. He discouraged the use of political propaganda signs. When a supporter put up a tarpaulin for his 30th birthday, he asked for it to be removed. He stated that such signs with his image would not be encouraged during his term.
He has also shared his views on how politicians are seen in the Philippines. He believes politicians should not receive "celebrity treatment."
Awards and Recognition
In 2021, the United States Department of State honored Vico Sotto. He received the International Anticorruption Champions Award. This award recognized his efforts to fight corruption.
In 2025, Time magazine included Sotto in its Time 100 Next list. This list features emerging leaders who are shaping the future.
