Vico Sotto named anti-corruption champion
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto was hailed by the US State Department as one of its International Anticorruption Champions, citing his prioritization of anticorruption and transparency initiatives.
The International Anticorruption Champions Award of the US State Department aims to recognize individuals who have demonstrated leadership, courage, and impact in preventing, exposing, and combating corruption.
He was described by the US State Department as a “standard-bearer for a new generation of Philippine politicians.”
Sotto was cited for ending the 27-year reign of a political family in Pasig City in 2019.
His push for transparency while he was still a councilor was also recognized by the State Department as Sotto was the author of the first Freedom of Information (FOI) ordinance in Metro Manila.
Sotto, the youngest councilor then, pushed for the passage of Pasig City Ordinance No. 37 or the first local transparency ordinance in Metro Manila in 2018, which allows city residents to request documents without having to provide a justification.
Under the said ordinance, if the information officer fails to provide the requested documents a er the maximum period of 10 days, he/she will be sanctioned.
Moreover, the US State Department cited the efforts of the young mayor to fight corruption by establishing a transparent approach to governance in order to stop kickbacks in city projects and dealings.