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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
PASIG CITY (SDN) — As the political cauldron heats up, the chasm between Mayor Vico Sotto and a fellow Pasigueño, billionaire businessman Curlee Discaya, appears to continue to simmer.
Their latest bone of contention is a concert that the St. Gerrard Construction Charity Foundation, Inc. organized on Saturday at Arcovia City.
Sotto said the foundation should have gotten a permit for the event, which he said was important as the public safety is priority.
The mayor underscored this as he even sent support to the event to help in the concertgoers’ safety and security.
“Even if they (didn’t) get a permit, we still sent them support through security. Our policemen went there even if they didn’t coordinate with them. I have also sent our security personnel from the Peace and Order Department (POD),” the mayor emphasizes.
Discaya, who owns the St. Gerrard Construction Contractor Development Corporation, a Quad “A” company, joining a list of only around 44 such ranked construction companies in the Philippines, has another take about permit for the concert for the youths of Pasig.
He begged to disagree with the mayor.
There’s no need, he pointed out, to secure a permit from the city government as the venue of the concert is a private estate. Discaya is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the construction company.
Together with his wife Cezarah “Ate Sarah” Rowena Discaya, they also run the St. Gerrard foundation. She is the chief financial officer (CFO) of the foundation, which had already conducted medical missions in 23 barangays of the city, with each episode attracting around 1,000 or more poor Pasigueños.
Instead, Curlee Discaya sent his thanks to the management of Arcovia City through his Facebook page.
“Thank you Arcovia for allowing us to use your venue, which is a private estate, for the youth of Pasig,” he said.
On the other hand, Sotto seemed to impress upon the point that he had nothing against the foundation even as he emphasized the concert’s organizers should have made coordination with the city government though they did not secure a permit to ensure the concertgoers’ safety and security.
Addressing the businessman personally, the mayor says in Filipino in his Facebook post, “Mr. Curlee, it is not a problem that you are holding an event. We even help in your concert — I sent POD security personnel and coordinated with the PNP (Philippine National Police). Even in your medical missions, we are assisting, we also help in security, even with the local government’s sweepers. No problem.
“But we are not just talking about permit, also PUBLIC SAFETY (underscoring Sotto’s). What if something happens. Even if the chances are low, there are incidents that a private events team cannot cope with. In all the concerts in Pasig, it’s only you that did not coordinate with the LGU (local government unit (and) PNP. The one held simultaneously with yours in Robinson, also private, they have a permit. Even the birthday party of a senator at Metrotent, they secured a permit.”
Dialogue between the two camps, possible?
The mayor continues, “The people’s safety should be first before other matters.”
On the other hand, Sotto assured that in future events of the foundation, “we will still assist.”
He said he is happy when Pasigueños receive assistance. “But we should remember that joining politics should not become a ‘shield’ for illegal acts. Even if you turn the narrative upside down, investigations were first made against you, not just about building code but also allegations on fraud, (tax) delinquencies, and others — before your entry into politics.”
It can be recalled that Sarah Discaya had already recently confirmed rumors that she was planning to run for Pasig mayor, which puts her in direct political confrontation with Sotto, who is gunning for his third and last term.
Meanwhile, Curlee Discaya cited Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 which stipulates, among others, that “Public assemblies held in private venues, like concert halls and or private estates, do not require a permit for the LGU, as long as the property owner consents.”
He said other venues that do not require permit include freedom parks, the areas designated for protests and assemblies.
“As to the law you are citing, please read the entire law plus the Local Government Code. Don’t mislead people by twisting the meaning of the law,” the mayor’s reply goes.
As this happened, Curlee Discaya did not discount the possibility of engaging in a dialogue with Sotto.
“Thank you, Atty. (Christian) Sia in the explanation, I hope it will open up our differences and I hope we can talk about it in the proper venue,” he said.
The St. Gerrard Construction CEO was apparently referencing an interview that Sia, a former Pasig councilor, had with members of the media recently, discussing some of the issues separating the Discaya Camp and the Sotto Camp.
With the soft tone of some of Sotto’s statements in his above-cited social media post about the concert and Curlee Discaya apparently being open for a dialogue, maybe they’ll find in their hearts to be open for an engagement.
Hopefully, this is not wishful thinking.
But who’ll draw the first blood, so to speak, the $64 question. (♡)