Discaya not leading Pasig mayoral polls

An anonymous Facebook user has falsely claimed that Pasig City mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya leads the race against incumbent Mayor Vico Sotto by 349 votes, before the vote counting even begins.

The claim was posted at 8:46 a.m. in a Facebook group called NAPICO MANGGAHAN FOODTRIP, over an hour after the regular voting period began for the 2025 Philippine midterm elections. 

It reads:

JUST IN: LAMANG NA PO NG 349 VOTES SI SARA DISCAYA 🎉🎉 NAWAY MAGTULOY TULOY 👆😇 #KAYATHIS (Just in: Sara Discaya is ahead by 349 votes, hoping that this trend continues)

Vote counting only begins “as soon as the voting is finished” and must be done publicly at the polling place by the board of election inspectors, according to Section 206, Article XVIII of the Omnibus Election Code. 

Voting for the midterm elections started at 7 a.m. and will end at 7 p.m.

The Commission on Elections earlier warned voters against “fake news,” disinformation and misinformation during elections. 

Under Section 261(z)(11) of the Omnibus Election Code, spreading any false information about the general election conduct is considered an election offense, punishable by one to six years in prison without probation.

The post, which has since been taken down, gained over 700 reactions, 7 comments, and 11 shares. (AJM)