Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Senate President Vicente Sotto III attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The hearing was also attended by officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways led by Sec. Vince Dizon, along with representatives of contractors implicated in alleged ghost and substandard projects nationwide. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

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/177666014324520250918-senate-flood-control-tito-sotto-JC0543.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senate President Vicente Sotto III attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The hearing was also attended by officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways led by Sec. Vince Dizon, along with representatives of contractors implicated in alleged ghost and substandard projects nationwide. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE)</strong> — Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III met with some majority senators last week to discuss the possibility of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte reaching their chamber. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/18/ridon-sara-duterte-has-to-face-impeachment-coa-disallowance-1709">Sara Duterte has to face impeachment, COA disallowance—solon</a></div><p>In a message, he said he invited those who were in town to dinner, but emphasized that it was not a caucus.</p><p>“Yes I just wanted to give my colleagues a heads up on the possibility of receiving the articles of impeachment from the HOR (House of Representatives). It’s best that we prepare for it as senator judges,” Sotto said on Monday.</p><p>“It was not a caucus or Senate meet. I just invited majority senators who were in town for dinner,” he clarified. “It was simply a dinner exchanging talks and expectations. Definitely not a caucus.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/20/remulla-trillanes-amlc-et-al-to-testify-in-vp-duterte-impeach-hearing-0959">Remulla, Trillanes, AMLC, et al to testify in VP Duterte impeach hearing</a></div><p>Sotto shared that he is studying the rules.</p><p>“I am undergoing a crash program on the Rules of Court to jibe with our own Rules to be sure in case of any eventuality,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SOTTO SLAMS PANELO</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Sotto also assured that they will remain impartial and criticized former Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, who said he believes Sotto, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Deputy House Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros, and Senator Francis Pangilinan will vote to convict Duterte.  </p><p>“Si Atty. Panelo ba may crystal ball? We will remain impartial and wait for whatever will be presented. I resent that allegation,” Sotto remarked.</p><p>“The decision of an Impeachment Court must be based on proven facts and their correspondence with the elements of the laws violated. Only after a hearing may a Senator-Judge be reasonably informed to render judgment where the impeached official  was given a chance to cross-examine witnesses and scrutinize documents, as due process requires,” he added.</p><p>The House is holding clarificatory hearings to determine probable cause against Duterte. The trial proper is the Senate’s mandate as stated under the 1987 Constitution.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/13/-bakit-may-mini-trial-duterte-supporters-seek-tro-vs-vp-sara-impeachment-hearing-1256">&#x27;Bakit may mini-trial?&#x27;: Duterte supporters seek TRO vs VP Sara impeachment hearing</a></div><p>“The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment,” the Constitution said.</p><p>Last April 14, Duterte’s alleged former aide and bagman Ramil Madriaga testified before the House Justice Committee.</p><p>The next hearing is scheduled on April 22 where the supposed unexplained wealth of the Vice President will be tackled.</p><p>The committee aims to finish the hearings on April 29 and have the committee report passed when session resumes on May 4.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_gSZAx-sgnE?si=xlO6r_k2Y43iriNz" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III met with some majority senators last week to discuss the possibility of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte reaching their chamber.</p>

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III met with some majority senators last week to discuss the possibility of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte reaching their chamber.

Sotto, majority meet over chances of VP Sara impeachment reaching Senate

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Sotto, majority meet over chances of VP Sara impeachment reaching Senate

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 20, 2026 12:47 PM PHT

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Updated April 20, 2026 03:37 PM PHT

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impeachment

Sara Duterte

Tito Sotto

Senate

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