Vico Sotto and the recent moves that sparked public attention
Recent developments involving Vico Sotto have once again captured widespread public attention online and in political discussions. Known for his reform-oriented leadership, the Filipino politician has increasingly expressed bold manoeuvres in anti-corruption efforts and his firm stance on political ethics. Sotto's viral "rags to riches" critique of government contractors has also shifted narratives and sparked national debate.
Source: Facebook
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Victor Ma. Regis "Vico" Nubla Sotto is the 12th Mayor of Pasig, serving since 2019, and was a Pasig City Councillor from 2016 to 2019.
- He is the son of actors Vic Sotto and Coney Reyes, and nephew of Senate President Tito Sotto.
- As City Councillor, he pushed the Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance, Metro Manila’s first localised freedom of information law, before becoming Mayor in 2019.
- Vico received an NBI letter regarding alleged quarantine violations for tricycle operations, which he addressed and complied with.
Profile summary
Name | Vico Sotto |
Date of Birth | June 17, 1989 |
Place of Birth | Quezon City, Philippines |
Age | 36 (as of 2026) |
Nationality | Filipino |
Ethnicity | Filipino |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
Weight | 70 kg (154 lbs) |
Hair Colour | Black |
Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
Parents | Vic Sotto (father), Coney Reyes (mother) |
Siblings | Danica Sotto, Oyo Boy Sotto |
Marital Status | Married |
Spouse | Trina Hidalgo |
Profession | Politician, Public Servant |
Social Media |
Who is Vico Sotto?
Victor Ma. Regis "Vico" Nubla Sotto is a Filipino politician who has served as the 12th mayor of Pasig since 2019. He previously served as a member of the Pasig City Council for the first district from 2016 to 2019
How old is Vico Sotto?
The popular Filipino politician is 36 years old as of 2026. He was born on June 17, 1989, to his parents, Connie and Vic.
Who is the father of Vico Sotto?
His father, Vic Sotto, is a comedian and actor, while his mother, Coney Reyes, is a popular actress. The politician is the nephew of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Castelo Sotto III, and the grandchild of Vincent Sotto, the former senator.
Vico also has two half-siblings, Danica and Oyo Boy, from his father's marriage to actress and TV host Dina Bonnevie (married 1982–1992). The veteran comedian is currently married to Pauleen Luna-Sotto, Vico's stepmother.
Source: Original
Education background
Here is the breakdown of how he studied;
- Preschool: Philippine Montessori Centre (classmate: Janine Gutierrez)
- Grade School & High School: Brent International School
- College: Ateneo de Manila University – College Degree in Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 2011
- Graduate School: Ateneo School of Government – Master of Arts in Public Management, 2018
In 2018, he received the YSEALI Professional Fellowship and completed a residency at the Iowa Public Information Board. Before entering politics, he also taught social science at Arellano University for a semester.
Career
Vico Sotto was elected to the Pasig City Council in 2016, serving one term before becoming Mayor on June 30, 2019. As an independent councillor, he faced opposition that made passing legislation challenging. He focused on the Pasig Transparency Mechanism Ordinance, which allows citizens to access public records, and became Metro Manila’s first localised freedom of information law.
Vico Sotto NBI letter
The Pasig mayor was accused of violating the government quarantine protocols by continuing tricycle operations in Pasig. This is an action which the Department of the Interior and Local Government had banned.
As a result, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) sent him a letter to respond to his alleged violations. However, in his conversation with INQUIRER.net, the mayor sent a message to them saying:
I sent my letter reply earlier today. We asked them for clarification as to what they are actually alleging, as their letter was not clear and no specific acts were mentioned
He insisted that NBI’S letter was trying to stop the continuous tricycle operations, which the government had already stopped.
What kind of letter is that… It stated, in parenthesis, for example, continuous tricycle operations. In the first place, that is not true, when they ordered us to stop it, we already stopped it.
However, the Department of the Interior and Local Government insisted that the tricycle operations should be fully stopped during the quarantine period, which the mayor later adhered to.
Vico Sotto's achievements
He is widely recognised for his anti-corruption initiatives, transforming Pasig into a model of transparent, "honest" governance. Key achievements include breaking a 27-year political dynasty, earning international recognition as a 2021 U.S. State Department Anticorruption Champion, strengthening public healthcare, and implementing digital reforms for transparency.
He has been asking other leaders and politicians to be loud and present in showing people how to come up with solutions during the virus crisis. Also, within one year of the celebrity being the mayor, he has achieved the following:
Universal health care
- He has allotted P152 million to care for the renovation of health care centres.
- In 2020, he also came up with a budget for medical supplies and free medicine, where this amount tripled the allocation in 2019.
- He also allotted P36 million to augment the subsidy of all new PhilHealth members.
Education
- He has come up with a budget of P1.2 billion for education in 2020.
- P1 billion has been spent on repairing and renovating public schools.
- Scholarships fund was allotted for P420 million.
Housing
- He has set aside P100 million for land acquisition for all the new socialised housing projects.
- Public services
- He has provided weekly food rations for 11,200 children at the daycare centre.
Is Vico Sotto single?
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has kept his personal life private and has not publicly announced a relationship or marriage, leading many to believe he is single. He focuses primarily on his political career.
Who is Vico Sotto's wife?
Vico Sotto is not married. The claim that Vico Sotto and Atasha Muhlach are married is false. These rumours stem from fabricated, clickbait-style posts on social media platforms like Facebook. Atasha has explicitly denied related fabricated rumours about their relationship. As of 2026, they are not married or engaged.
Vico Sotto's latest news
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto filed a complaint with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on February 19, 2026, against former mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya. He alleged election overspending and perjury, claiming Discaya underdeclared campaign expenses in her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), including unreported video ads and billboards.
Discaya, who lost the 2025 mayoral race to Sotto, has faced other legal issues unrelated to this complaint. The case is now under Comelec review, and if proven, the violations could result in penalties such as disqualification from holding public office.
"Rags to Riches" critique
The politician also made headlines after challenging the culture and success stories of government contractors in a YouTube interview in August 2025. Vico argued against admiring the lavish lifestyles of the wealthy politicians, saying they are linked to tax-funded projects, changing the narrative from "Rags to Riches" to "Robs to Riches".
Is Vico Sotto a lawyer?
No, Vico Sotto is not a lawyer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Public Management from Ateneo de Manila University. He is a public servant, currently serving as the Mayor of Pasig City, known for his work in local governance and anti-corruption, but he did not study law.
Trivia
- He was classmates with actress Janine Gutierrez in preschool at the Philippine Montessori Centre.
- Vico is the grandson of former senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto and part of a well-known showbiz-political family.
- Before politics, he taught social science for a semester at Arellano University.
- He is widely recognised for being one of the youngest mayors in Metro Manila to implement significant transparency reforms.
- Vico Sotto broke a 27-year political dynasty in Pasig City when he won the mayoral seat.
- He is known for keeping his personal life private and confirmed to be single as of 2026.
- Vico has earned international recognition, including the 2021 U.S. State Department Anticorruption Champion award.
- He enjoys close ties with civic and youth programs, reflected in his initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vico Sotto is one of the most inspirational Filipino politicians. He has proved his passion for being a leader through the help he has offered to his constituency, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. He is guaranteed to go far because of his admirable personality.
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