Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has proposed lowering the minimum age requirement for the country’s highest elective posts — president and senator — saying it is time to entrust national leadership to the younger generation.
In an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s On Point with Pinky Webb, Sotto declared:
“Ibaba na ang edad ng presidente to 35 tapos ibaba natin ang edad ng mga senador sa 30.”
He emphasized that today’s youth are more than capable of steering the nation.
“Magagaling ang mga bata ngayon eh. Yung mga Gen Z, mga Millenial magagaling eh, ibigay na natin sa mga kabataan ang pagpapatakbo nitong bansa baka puro matino pa ang mailagay natin,” he said.
Asked about speculations that the proposal was meant to favor his nephew, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, the senator brushed it off.
“Sabi ko na mag-iisip sila ng ganun eh. Hindi ko naisip si Vico nun,” he clarified.
Sotto also pointed out that the U.S. follows lower age qualifications for its national leaders.
“Ganun sa Amerika, baka hindi alam ng mga kababayan natin. The United States Constitution the minimum age of the President of the United States, si POTUS, is 35. At ang mga senador sa Amerika 30. Bakit tayo 40 at tsaka 35? Hindi ko maintindihan eh,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader likewise voiced support for amending the 1987 Constitution, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional and set additional requirements for such proceedings.