Julia Christine Botin

‘Mahiya naman kayo’: Sotto says senators should follow rules in Duterte impeachment trial

Article (news)

Jamaine Punzalan

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17496997029732-Composite (2).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Senate President Tito Sotto and Senate President Chiz Escudero. <em>Jonathan Cellona/Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said senators should follow rules in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>Sotto, who will join the Senate in the 20th Congress, said senators, sitting as judges in the impeachment court, should not have introduced motions.</p><p>“Ikaw ang nag-impeachment court e, walang motion na ie-entertain galing sa isang judge,” he said.</p><p>“Judge ka e. Ang itsura mo doon you are acting as a counsel for either the defense or the prosecution,” he told DZMM.</p><p>Just hours after senators had taken their oaths as jurors on Tuesday, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa introduced a motion to dismiss the impeachment case.</p><p>He argued that earlier complaints filed against Duterte in the House, which did not make it past the committee level, had constituted multiple impeachment proceedings within a year, something banned under the Philippine constitution.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/11/-not-co-equal-escudero-says-house-cannot-defy-impeachment-court-s-orders-1325">&#x27;Not co-equal&#x27;: Escudero says House cannot defy impeachment court&#x27;s orders</a></div><p>The motion was later amended in favor of sending the case back to the House, which was ordered to certify that it did not violate the constitution and that it remains willing to prosecute the case when its new members take their seats on June 30. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/12/house-certifies-sara-impeachment-didn-t-violate-constitution-what-happens-next-0930">House certifies Sara impeachment didn’t violate Constitution: What happens next?</a></div><p>Senate President Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero on Wednesday said there was <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/11/escudero-defends-cayetano-bato-no-rule-barring-impeachment-judges-to-file-motions-1235">no rule barring senator-judges from filing motions</a> in the impeachment court.</p><p>But Sotto said senators should refrain from filing motions to maintain neutrality and impartiality.</p><p>“Ang procedure sa amin noong araw sa impeachment court, ang pwede lang mga senator judges, they can ask questions for clarification,” he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/11/-no-one-can-stop-duterte-impeachment-trial-house-prosecutors-0735">&#x27;No one can stop&#x27; Duterte impeachment trial: House prosecutors</a></div><p>He also disagreed with the Senate’s move to question the constitutionality of Duterte’s impeachment, saying: “Naipresenta na ba ng mga prosecutors yung articles of impeachment para masabi ninyong may infirmities?”</p><p>In the 20th Congress, Sotto said, “Pipilitin natin na sumunod ang lahat sa rules and procedures.” </p><p>“For example, pinapanood ko sila, kung sino-sinong nagtataas ng kamay. Nire-recognize naman ng Senate President. Hindi ganoon. Yung majority leader ang nagsasabi kung sinong ire-recognize, kaya nga majority floor leader yun e,” he said.</p><p>“Doon sa mga hindi sumusunod sa rules saka parliamentary procedures ng Senado ngayon, mahiya naman kayo,” he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/11/senates-move-to-return-articles-of-impeachment-is-deeply-concerning-romualdez-0155">Senate&#x27;s move to return articles of impeachment is &#x27;deeply concerning&#x27;: Romualdez</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATE PRESIDENCY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Escudero previously called out Sotto for allegedly siding with the impeachment of Duterte and the House of Representatives.</p><p>&quot;Sinunod ko ang batas. Surpresa ba? Hindi. Dahil lahat ng ginagawa ko, sinasabi ko muna bago ko gawin. Pangatlo…bahagi ng trabaho ko bilang tagapangulo ng Senado at bahagi ng 19th Congress na pagpasyahan ito sang-ayon sa approval o assent ng aming mga kasamahan,&quot; Escudero said.</p><p>&quot;Ang mas tanong ko ay, parang kami yata yung binushwhack niya, ako at ang Senado. Tinira kami at kinampihan ang Kongreso imbis na ang institusyon na kinabilangan niya. Kinampihan ang impeachment,” he said, referring to Sotto.</p><p>“Nalalaman ko na mas matanda at mas malawak ang kanyang karanasan. Pero hindi naman siguro rason yun para hindi galangin at maliitin ang kasalukuyang Senado,” he added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/9/chiz-sotto-word-war-erupts-over-sara-impeachment-senate-presidency-1639">Chiz, Sotto word war erupts over Sara impeachment, Senate presidency</a></div><p>Escudero made the remark after Sotto criticized delays in the impeachment proceedings.</p><p>“There was never a plenary after February 5 that Articles of impeachment was frozen. June 2 na ulit plenary. Pero ang daming pronouncements in between. Palusot,&quot; Sotto told a group chat with media.  </p><p>&quot;Iyong SP said lahat daw ng kilos nya is by the Senate. Just now Nancy [Binay] and Migs [Zubiri] said none of them were ever consulted,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/12/escudero-tells-house-vp-sara-respect-and-follow-impeachment-court-s-orders-1034">Escudero tells House, VP Sara: &#x27;Respect and follow impeachment court&#x27;s orders&#x27;</a></div><p>Asked Thursday if he had enough backing to return as Senate President, Sotto said, “Siguro gusto ng karamihan sa amin, gusto ng iba sa amin. Pero ang balita ko, marami rin ang nagsusuporta pa rin sa current Senate President.”</p><p>“Hindi natin masabi at this point. Tatanggapin ko ‘pag may 13 na nagsabi,” he told DZMM. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/12/impeachment-trial-of-vp-sara-duterte-alive-and-kicking-hontiveros-0934">Impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte &#x27;alive and kicking&#x27;: Hontiveros</a></div>

<p> Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said senators should follow rules in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. </p>

Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said senators should follow rules in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.