LIST: What’s Tito Sotto’s stance?

Former Senate president Vicente Sotto III during the Lacson-Sotto tandem’s miting de avance in Cavite on May 6, 2022. Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau

MANILA, Philippines – Former Senate president Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is seeking to return to the chamber. He outlined his agenda and stance on critical issues in his bid for a fifth term in the 2025 polls.

In an exclusive interview with Inquirer’s INQside Look on Tuesday, Sotto was given a run-through of top concerns for voters.

Sotto said he was in favor of the following:

• PUV modernization
• Minimum wage hike (He emphasized that his proposed 14th month pay would solve it.)
• Legalization of medical marijuana (With some reservations. He said he would support medical cannabis oil without the presence of THC. He also stressed prohibiting planting and research.)
• Current implementation of the war on drugs (He said he thinks they could do more.)
• Banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators
• Current policy on the West Philippine Sea

Meanwhile, Sotto said he was against the following:

• Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
• Death penalty (He said he changed his mind.)

Sotto, however, did not give a categorical stance on the following:

• Political dynasties (With reservations)
• Charter charge (With reservations. He said he prefers “character change.”)
• Removal of term limits (With reservations. He said term limits are the “culprit” for political dynasties and need further study.)
• SOGIE equality bill (He said it must be an anti-discrimination bill and that the prior proposal “reek of class legislation.”)
• Divorce (He said he favors the administrative process of annulment.)
• Candidates with pending cases running for government post (He stressed that only if a court already decides it.)
• Expanding access of the United States to Philippine military bases (With reservations)

Sotto filed his certificate of candidacy on October 2. He is running under the administration’s senatorial slate.

READ: Sen. Tito Sotto files COC seeking reelection

Sotto was senator from 1992 to 2004 and from 2010 to 2022. He served as Senate president from 2018 to 2022.

In 2022, Sotto made his bid for the vice presidency as running mate to fellow senator Panfilo Lacson, but they lost in the national elections.