SC orders Sotto to comment on indirect contempt petition
MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has directed Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to explain why he should not be cited for indirect contempt following a series of critical public remarks regarding its ruling on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a resolution made public Monday, the SC gave Sotto 10 non-extendible days from receipt of notice to submit his comment.
“Acting on the verified petition for indirect contempt, the Court resolved, without necessarily giving due course to the petition, to require the respondent to comment thereon within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice of this resolution,” read the resolution.
SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said the resolution was sent to Sotto.
With the 10-day deadline given to submit his comment, Ting said: “Pursuant to the Resolution, the respondent must submit a comment within 10 days from receipt of notice, or by May 14, 2026.”
The root of the controversy is the SC’s July 25, 2025 ruling declaring the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President unconstitutional and void from the beginning.
Sotto said with the SC’s ruling, impeachment of the Vice President has become an “impossible dream.”
He also said the case was decided by justices who were “unfamiliar with congressional rules.”
In the complaint filed by lawyers Ferdinand Topacio, Harold Respicio, Manuelito Luna, Virgilio Garcia, and businesswoman Mary Catherine Diaz Binag, they said Sotto’s public criticisms of the SC’s ruling undermine public confidence in the judiciary and are improper conduct that also demeans the High Court.
“The public statements made by Senator Sotto are contemptuous for being improper and an embarrassment to the administration of justice in this country,” the petition said.
They said Sotto’s statements fall under Rule 71, Section 3 of the Rules of Court, which punishes conduct that tends to “impede, obstruct, or degrade the administration of justice.”
“The speech tends to undermine the confidence of the people in the honesty and integrity of the court and its members… unwarranted attacks on the dignity of the courts cannot be distinguished as free speech.”
It added that “clearly, Senator Sotto’s public statements fall squarely within the definition of improper conduct, for being grossly disrespectful against this Honorable Court. Worse, such statements have the dangerous tendency to damage the confidence in the honesty and integrity of this Honorable Court.” /gsg
