Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto issued a public warning on May 17, 2026, clarifying that the local government unit (LGU) has no existing programs involving cryptocurrency or digital wallets. The announcement followed reports of unauthorized individuals posing as LGU staff to collect personal information from residents in Centennial 2, Barangay Pinagbuhatan, in exchange for digital tokens. Sotto urged the public to refrain from joining, investing, or providing personal details to unestablished entities lacking proper documentation.
Local Government Disclaims Crypto Token Distribution
According to Sotto’s official statement, individuals had set up a physical presence in the community to solicit sensitive data under the guise of an official local government initiative. The mayor advised residents to report any information regarding these operators directly to Ugnayan Sa Pasig, the Pasig City Public Information Office, or local police personnel.
Sotto noted that fraudulent operations continuously change tactics, utilizing online schemes, cryptocurrency distribution, and pyramid models. He emphasized that these operations rely entirely on the public voluntarily giving up money or personal data to succeed. (Read More: Philippine SEC Investment Scam Watchlist: Public Advisories, Cease-and-Desist Orders, and Community Reports)
History of Likeness Exploitation and Media Impersonation
Sotto is no stranger to being impersonated by entities attempting to legitimize financial schemes. According to a fact-check report by VERA Files published on April 10, 2026, an online video circulated on Facebook showing an AI-manipulated version of Sotto endorsing a fake government-backed investment project that required a minimum entry of 15,000 pesos.
The altered video also featured the likeness of TV Patrol host Jeff Canoy and manipulated authentic footage of Sotto from a December 2025 anti-corruption forum. Technical analysis by the Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU) subsequently confirmed that the audio and lip-synchronization were modified using artificial intelligence tools to mimic the mayor’s voice and appearance.
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