FACT CHECK: Senator Tito Sotto Did Not Call for Immediate Conviction of VP Sara Duterte Without Due Process

A widely circulated Facebook graphic falsely attributed a quote to Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, claiming he said Vice President Sara Duterte should be convicted immediately and that the Senate should disregard due process in her impeachment trial. The post, shared by user Eduardo Ortega Jr. on July 30, featured a photo of Sotto with overlaid text in Filipino stating that Duterte should be convicted right away and that the rules should no longer be followed. As of early August 2026, the post had amassed nearly 10,000 reactions, 5,000 comments, and 240 shares, spreading misinformation about the senator’s stance.

However, there is no record of Sotto making such a statement in any interview, official communication, or credible news report. This false claim is part of a recurring pattern of fabricated quote cards involving Sotto related to Duterte’s impeachment trial. Earlier viral posts inaccurately suggested that Sotto had said only 11 or 14 votes from senator-judges were needed to convict the Vice President, assertions that have been thoroughly debunked.

Contrary to these false claims, Sotto has consistently emphasized the importance of adhering to the Constitution and the Senate’s established rules throughout the impeachment process. As Senate president preparing to preside over the trial, he repeatedly underscored that the proceedings must not bypass due process. In a May 2 radio interview, Sotto expressed confidence in the Senate’s impeachment rules and cautioned that altering them could complicate the process. He reiterated that the Senate is constitutionally obligated to convene as an impeachment court once it receives the Articles of Impeachment, urging everyone to follow the Constitution.

Sotto has also maintained that any conviction must meet the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority vote, which translates to 16 senator-judges out of 24. This threshold was confirmed by presiding officer Chiz Escudero at the start of Duterte’s impeachment trial on July 6, reinforcing the constitutional standard.

Sotto’s involvement in the impeachment proceedings has been significant. He previously served as Senate president and was initially set to preside over Duterte’s trial before being replaced by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano in May 2026 amid a power struggle in the Senate. Cayetano was later succeeded by Senator Win Gatchalian. During the first impeachment attempt against Duterte in 2025, Sotto voted against archiving the articles of impeachment after the Supreme Court declared them unconstitutional. At that time, he described the ruling as a “sad day for constitutional law” and criticized it as judicial overreach.

This fact check was conducted to address the misinformation circulating on social media and clarify Sotto’s actual position on the impeachment trial. The senator’s public statements and actions demonstrate his commitment to upholding constitutional procedures and due process rather than advocating for an immediate conviction without following the rules.

Journalist Efren Cyril Bocar of Rappler, who specializes in fact-checking political claims, contributed to this report. Readers are encouraged to report suspicious social media content to factcheck@rappler.com to help combat disinformation.