Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, #59
Former Senate President(as of Feb. 5, 2025)
Personal Information
- Age and date of birth: 76 (Aug. 24, 1948)
- Party: Nationalist People’s Coalition
- Highest Educational Attainment: A.B. English, Colegio de San Juan de Letran
- Highest Government Position Held: Senator
Summary
With his experience in legislative work, Sotto wants a Senate return to scrutinize the national government budget. He pushes for the rightsizing of the bureaucracy and the creation of a presidential drug enforcement authority. He also wants to pass laws to address “fake news.”Stance on Key Issues
On Poverty, Controlling Inflation, and Jobs
- Advocates for agricultural modernization and an increase in the budget for the agricultural sector to spur economic growth.
- Says the government must buy at least 50% of its output at farmgate prices.
On Fighting Graft and Corruption
- Says there should be no confidential funds or, at least, these must be subject to audit.
- Believes fighting corruption can be solved through internal cleansing and leading by example.
On the West Philippine Sea
- Suggests a co-venture project with China in the WPS on a 60-40 arrangement from joint exploration in “our area,” with the bigger share going to the Philippines, and a 60-40 division in favor of China from explorations in “their area.”
On The Drug War
- Says Duterte’s drug war was incomplete and suggests a holistic approach that focuses not only on enforcement and prosecution but also on prevention and rehabilitation.
On Disaster Preparedness
- Underscores the need to review environmental laws, guidelines, and implementation at the local government level, particularly for typhoon preparedness.
Government Experience / Field of Expertise
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Senator (1992 - 2004; 2010 - 2022)
- Senate President (2018 - 2022)
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Authored and sponsored bills that became laws, such as:
- RA 11469, Bayanihan We Heal as One Act
- RA 11479, Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020
- RA 11036, Mental Health Act of 2017
- RA 11223, Universal Healthcare Act
- RA 10640, Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
- RA 10361, Domestic Workers Act
- RA 9262, Anti-violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004
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Chairman - Dangerous Drugs Board, Office of the President (July 2008 - November 2009)
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Vice Mayor - Quezon City (1988 - 1992)
- Presiding Officer - Quezon City Council (1988 - 1992)
- Chairman - Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (1988 - 1992)
Issues and Controversies
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2017: Criticized for saying that then-Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, a single mother, was “na-ano lang” (just knocked up). Later said it was a joke, but critics did not accept it.
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2012: Faced an ethics complaint for plagiarizing Sarah Pope and two other U.S. bloggers in a speech against the reproductive health bill, a charge his staff admitted to.
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2012: Accused of plagiarism again for lifting portions of his speech against the reproductive health bill from a 1966 speech by U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Sotto admitted to translating the portions but refused to consider it plagiarism.
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Pepsi Paloma Rape Case: Described it as a "showbiz gimmick" and pointed to the late actress' manager, Rey Dela Cruz, as the mastermind of the controversy.
Family Members in Government
Gian Carlo G. Sotto (Son)
- Vice Mayor - Quezon City (2019 - present)
- Councilor - Quezon City, Third District (2010 - 2019)
Dorielle Maria “Lala” Sotto-Antonio (Daughter)
- Chairperson - Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (2022 - present)
- Councilor - Quezon City, Sixth District (2013 - 2022)
- Councilor - Quezon City, Third District (2001 - 2010)
Valmar “Val” Sotto (Brother)
- Councilor - Parañaque, Second District (2004 - 2013)
Viktor Eriko “Wahoo” M. Sotto (Nephew)
- Councilor - Parañaque, Second District (2013 - 2022)
Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” Sotto (Nephew)
- Mayor - Pasig City (2019 - present)
- Councilor - Pasig City, First District (2016 - 2019)
Nina Celine Sotto (Niece-in-law)
- Councilor - Parañaque, Second District (2022 - 2025)
Cesar Sotto (Uncle)
- 2nd National Assembly (Commonwealth), Mindanao and Jolo (1939 - 1941)
Vicente Sotto (Grandfather)
- Senator (1946 - 1950)
- 6th Philippine Legislature - Cebu, Second District (1922 - 1925)
- Councilor - Cebu (1902 - undetermined)
Filemon Sotto (Granduncle)
- Senator (1916 - 1922)
- 3rd Philippine Legislature - Cebu Province, Third District (1912 - 1916)
- 2nd Philippine Legislature - Cebu, Third District (1910 - 1912)
- 1st Philippine Legislature - Cebu, Third District (1907 - 1909)
- Councilor - Cebu (1903 - undetermined)
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