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Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III answers questions during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on October 6, 2025. Sotto states that he respects “whatever decision” Senator Panfilo Lacson makes regarding his planned resignation as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. He also expresses confidence in the stability of the Senate and affirms that its leadership remains well in place, asserting that both the minority and majority blocs are intact. The Senate President also shares that he and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian plan to push for the banning of unprogrammed funds in future budget deliberations.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III answers questions during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on October 6, 2025.
Sotto states that he respects “whatever decision” Senator Panfilo Lacson makes regarding his planned resignation as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. He also expresses confidence in the stability of the Senate and affirms that its leadership remains well in place, asserting that both the minority and majority blocs are intact.
The Senate President also shares that he and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian plan to push for the banning of unprogrammed funds in future budget deliberations.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SENATE LEADERSHIP- SOTTO

Victoria Tulad

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176828459379920251006-senate-president-tito-sotto-MT17.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senate President Vicente Sotto III answers questions during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on October 6, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Senate President Vicente &quot;Tito&quot; Sotto III said Tuesday he would quickly act on possible impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.</div><p>Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment. After the lower chamber impeaches an official, the Senate has the sole power to try and decide whether the public servant is guilty or not.</p><p>&quot;One thing is certain, as SP (Senate President), I will act on it with dispatch, forthwith!&quot; Sotto said in a message.</p><p>Sotto is referring to a constitutional provision that mandates the Senate to &quot;forthwith proceed&quot; to a trial after an official has been impeached by House lawmakers.</p><p>The Senate, under the leadership of then-Senate President Chiz Escudero, had been criticized for allegedly sitting on the impeachment case of Duterte despite the charter mandating senators to act on it promptly.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/6/senators-voting-on-marcoleta-motion-to-archive-sara-duterte-impeachment-1906">upper chamber archived</a> the impeachment case of Duterte in August 2025 after the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional for violating the provision against more than one impeachment complaint within a year against an impeachable official.</p><p>The Supreme Court <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ5llH49DTM">has yet to resolve</a> motions for reconsideration assailing that decision.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>POSSIBLE IMPEACHMENT CASE VS MARCOS, DUTERTE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>As of this writing, there has been no official impeachment case filed against Marcos before the House.</p><p>But House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said he had been invited to endorse the supposed impeachment complaint against Marcos, but he refused. </p><p>Erice did not say who reached out to him.</p><p>Asked if they were preparing for the impeachment, Sotto said, &quot;That&#x27;s putting the cart before the horse. Meron bang impeachment? Pareho bang papasa sa HOR (House of Representatives)?&quot;</p><p>One of the possible grounds against Marcos is alleged <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/11/marcos-jr-may-face-impeachment-complaint-over-betrayal-of-public-trust-erice-1534">betrayal of public trust</a> in relation to the national budget, Erice said. </p><p>Meanwhile, the one-year ban on filing a fresh impeachment case against Duterte will lapse on February 6, 2026.</p><p>The group BAYAN previously said it was eyeing to file another complaint against the vice president.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/12/palace-defends-marcos-jr-s-pivot-from-hands-off-policy-on-duterte-s-impeachment-1505">Palace defends Marcos Jr.’s pivot from ‘hands-off’ policy on Duterte’s impeachment</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CHANGE IN MARCOS STANCE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In 2024, Marcos discouraged allies from filing an impeachment complaint against Duterte, asking “why waste time on it”. But recently, Malacanang said the President would not block efforts to hold accountable those who should be held accountable, when asked about the possible fresh complaint against Duterte. </p><p>“Maaaring palakasin nito ang suporta sa tulak sa impeachment ng Vice President, kasi ang sinasabi ay kailangan panagutin, katulad nung nangyayari sa flood control issue. So, at least hindi kontra, diba? At mas malinaw na suporta ang pwedeng basa doon sa statement na ‘yon,” House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tini said. </p><p>He noted that 2026 is the “make or break” year for holding Duterte accountable over alleged misuse of confidential funds.</p><p>“’Pag umabot tayo ng 2027, siyempre ang nasa isip na ng lahat n’yan ay ‘yung eleksyon ng 2028. So, talagang mag-iiba na ang timbangan ng mga nakaupo at saka ‘yung mga nais tumakbo sa 2028, whether sa House or sa Senate,” he said.</p><p>Tinio believes there were also grounds to impeach the President. Asked whether they would file a complaint against him, he said it was being studied.</p><p>“Mayroong unprogrammed appropriations na inabuso dito sa flood control scandal na direktang responsibilidad ng Pangulo at higit sa lahat, mayroong mga seryosong alegasyon na binayaran ng kickback ang Pangulo mismo at ang kanyang gabinete. So kung grounds, mayroong mga impeachable offenses dito… Syempre kung magfa-file man, hintayin natin yung proper announcement dito,” Tinio said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mJ5llH49DTM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said Tuesday that he would quickly act on possible impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.</p>

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said Tuesday that he would quickly act on possible impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Sotto says to act 'forthwith' on possible impeachment vs Marcos, Duterte

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Sotto says to act 'forthwith' on possible impeachment vs Marcos, Duterte

Victoria Tulad,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 13, 2026 02:20 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 13, 2026 04:47 PM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

Tito Sotto

Senate

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