Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said Vice President Sara Duterte’s announcement of her 2028 presidential bid would not interfere with the Senate’s constitutional duties if impeachment proceedings reach the chamber.
In a chance interview, Sotto stressed that senators are expected to remain impartial regardless of political developments.
“The senators are expected to be impartial always, no matter who is going to be charged. Kanino mang articles of impeachment at sumampa samin, we are expected to be impartial,” he said.
He declined to speculate on the political impact of Duterte’s early declaration.
“You’re asking me about something na might happen in 2027, October of 2027… Kasi ngayon, everything else is speculation,” Sotto added.
Duterte and Sotto previously competed in the 2022 vice-presidential race, where Duterte won by a landslide while Sotto placed third.
On a separate matter, Sotto said there has been no official notice or discussion regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) naming Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Bong Go as co-perpetrators in the former administration’s anti-drug campaign.
“So, I’ll cross the bridge when I get there. Are there members who would want the caucus? Then I’ll call the caucus. Pero hindi ko pangungunahan,” he said.