Vicente Sotto

Vicente "Tito" Castelo Sotto III (; born August 24, 1948) is a Filipino politician and television personality who has served as the president pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines since 2026. He previously served as the 32nd president of the Senate of the Philippines from 2025 until 2026, a position he previously held from 2018 to 2022. Sotto has been a senator since 2025, having previously also served in the role from 1992 to 2004 and from 2010 to 2022. He is the longest-serving Philippine senator in history, the only one elected for five non-consecutive terms, and the second Philippine senator in history to have held all four major leadership positions in the Senate.

During his tenure in the upper chamber, he served as Senate majority leader and Senate minority leader before becoming Senate president. In between his Senate tenures, he led the Dangerous Drugs Board for a year. He served as the vice mayor of Quezon City from 1988 to 1992, and unsuccessfully ran for vice president in the 2022 elections as Panfilo Lacson's running mate.

Beyond politics, Sotto is a songwriter, known for founding the iconic musical group VST & Co. alongside his brothers Vic and Val Sotto, which is considered one of the best Filipino bands of all time and the "pioneer of the Manila sound". In television, he is known as one of the pioneer hosts of Eat Bulaga!, the longest-running variety show and the longest-running entertainment program in Philippine television history, and has appeared in numerous television shows and films as an actor. He is colloquially dubbed "Tito Sen" by the audience.

Sotto was also an athlete. He was a member of the Philippine national bowling team, representing the country several times at the AMF World Cup. He won a bronze medal in the 1978 Asian Games. was born on August 24, 1948 and Dr. Herminia Castelo-Sotto, who hails from Cabanatuan. His siblings are Valmar (born 1945), Marvic Valentin (born 1954), and Marcelino Antonio C. Sotto, Jr. (born 1951).

Sotto's paternal grandfather and namesake was former senator Vicente Sotto (1877–1950), the main author of the Press Freedom Law, whose brother, Filemon Sotto (1872–1966) also served as a senator and was one of those who drafted the 1935 Constitution.

Sotto studied at Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros, Manila for his elementary, high school, and college education, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English.

Entertainment career Sotto's career started in the 1960s when he joined the combo Tilt Down Men; one of its members was his brother Val. The band played covers of the Dave Clark Five and later he became the vice president of Vicor Music Corporation. Vicor founder Orly Ilacad also had a career in the 1960s like Sotto, Orly Ilacad & the Ramrods. In 1977, he was the vocalist for the short-lived group Bluejeans. He wrote the music for "Balatkayo" by Anthony Castelo which was Castelo's hit. He also formed the Manila sound group VST & Company on which the meaning of VST were his initials.

Vice Mayor of Quezon City (1988–1992) Sotto was vice mayor of Quezon City from 1988 to 1992.

In spite of this, he ran for another term in the Senate in 2007 under the TEAM Unity coalition backed by the Arroyo administration, but was unsuccessful, finishing in 19th place.

Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (2008–2009) Sotto was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as a member of the board of directors and acting chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board on July 4, 2008, succeeding Anselmo Avenido whose term was expiring that day. The appointment was just over one year after his failed 2007 senatorial bid. Philippine election laws forbid defeated candidates from being appointed to government posts within a year of the election.

Senate of the Philippines (2010–2022) In late 2009, he resigned as chair of the Dangerous Drugs Board to file his certificate of candidacy as Senator, seeking a comeback to the Senate. He ran under the Nationalist People's Coalition party but campaigned alone because he was not included on any ticket. During the campaign period, he was notably endorsed by Kris Aquino.

After the conclusion of the 2010 Philippine Senate election, Sotto won a seat and placed ninth among twelve winning candidates with roughly twelve million votes, giving him his third non-consecutive term in the upper house.

Upon the commencement of the 15th Congress on July 26, 2010, he was elected by the majority of his fellow senators as the Majority Leader of the Senate as well as the Chairman of its Committee on Rules, thus he manages the legislative affairs of the Senate, particularly on the floor during the sessions. He was also one of the 20 senators that voted to convict Chief Justice Renato Corona and to remove him from office on May 29 of that year.

In July 2013, at the end of the 15th Congress, Sotto resigned as the Majority Leader following the resignation of Juan Ponce Enrile, his staunch political mentor, as Senate President. Enrile resigned due to allegations of misusing the Senate funds. Then assistant majority leader Senator Gregorio Honasan became the acting Majority Leader following Sotto's resignation.

On the commencement of the session of the 16th Congress, on July 22, 2013, Sotto became part of the new Senate minority group. He was chosen by his colleagues in the minority to be the Deputy Floor Leader, second-in-command to Enrile who became the Minority Leader. In July 2014, following Enrile's arrest on charges of plunder relating to the pork barrel scam, Sotto became the acting Minority Floor Leader. Enrile resumed his position as the Minority Floor Leader after he was granted bail by the Supreme Court in August 2015.

In 2013, Sotto filed a bill that would mandate all government and non-government employees to receive a 14th month of annual salary. Responding to the Department of Labor and Employment claims that the bill would worsen unemployment if implemented, Sotto said that the existing 13th month pay is not truly a bonus because there are actually 13 months in a year. On July 25, 2016, during the opening of the 17th Congress, Sotto was again elected as Majority Leader. He was also elected as chairman of the Senate committee on rules and the Senate committee on ethics and privileges. Being a member of the NPC, Sotto is part of the "supermajority" coalition led by the PDP–Laban, the political party of President Rodrigo Duterte and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.

Sotto has expressed his support for the revival of the death penalty for "high level drug trafficking".

On May 3, 2017, during the Commission on Appointments' (CA) hearing on Judy Taguiwalo's appointment as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, Sotto, a member of the CA, made controversial remarks which seemed to belittle Taguiwalo for being a single parent.

One of Taguiwalo's daughters demanded a public apology from Sotto over his offensive remarks, asserting that "no woman deserves that kind of treatment". The Commission on Human Rights condemned the remarks, saying: "It is deplorable that such a comment came from an elected senator and that it elicited laughter from the halls of the Congress. The incident shows how those charged by law to protect women from discrimination often forget and unwittingly become promoters of discrimination themselves". A statement from the Philippine Commission on Women called the incident "a mockery of a woman's circumstance as a solo parent as [the] status has nothing to do with her professional qualifications." Some social media users even reminded him that his daughter, Ciara Sotto, is also a single mother. Singer-actress Lea Salonga, who was single-handedly raised by her mother, decried Sotto's remarks. Celebrity single mothers Pokwang, LJ Reyes, Geneva Cruz, and Claudine Barretto also denounced Sotto's remarks and expressed support for single mothers.

In an interview after the hearing, Sotto apologized and claimed that Taguiwalo was not offended by his remarks. He reasoned that perhaps people were just "overly sensitive" and did not "understand the joke". He also added:I will be the last person in this country to disrespect a woman because my mother was one of the founders of the Women's Rights Movement … I have two daughters who are separated, single, and have children so I don't think there should be big fuss about it.

Despite Sotto's apology, and Taguiwalo's acceptance thereof, eight women's and workers' groups filed an ethics complaint against the senator on May 10, 2017. Among these groups were Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific and Partido ng Manggagawa. The said groups claimed that the aforementioned apology was insincere and that Sotto normalized patriarchal views and trivialized the abandonment of responsibility over children. The complaint was filed with the Senate committee on ethics and privileges, of which Sotto is the chairman. Sotto welcomed the complaint and declared his intention to go on leave from his committee as soon as he receives the complaint officially.

On May 9, the Federation of Solo Parents in Luz vi min (FSPL) approached Senator Sotto in his office and requested his support for the passage of amendments to Republic Act No. 8972, or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000. These amendments included discounts on medicine, hospitalization fees, clothing, tuition, milk, and vitamins for solo parents and their children. In a statement, Sotto said that he is "ready and willing" to fight for the rights of single parents and assured the group that the amendments will be passed before December 2017.

On August 7, 2017, Sotto filed a resolution for the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to investigate the alleged unexplained wealth of Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista.

At the start of the 18th Congress in 2019, Sotto regained his position as the 3rd highest ranking official in the Philippine government after he was re-elected as its Senate President. Sen. Panfilo Lacson administered the oath of Sotto. In his valedictory speech, he emphasized that the Senate will continue to be as independent but yet cooperative in the plans of the Duterte administration. Sotto, who served as Majority Floor Leader in his years way back in the Senate secured the support of his co-senators especially those in the majority. On the other hand, Senators Ralph Recto, Migz Zubiri and Franklin Drilon also regained their post after they were re-elected as Senate President Pro-Tempore, Majority Floor Leader and Minority Floor Leader, respectively.

2022 vice presidential campaign

On March 23, 2021, Sotto stated that he and fellow Senator Panfilo Lacson were being persuaded to form a tandem, but the two senior legislators were still reluctant on deciding if they will file a candidacy together or individually, and when he was asked in an interview if he would run for higher office in the coming elections since he is term-limited and barred from running a third consecutive term as Senator, Sotto said that he is still undecided. Later on June 7, Sotto declared that if Panfilo Lacson decides to run for president in the 2022 election, he will "definitely" run as vice president in tandem with Lacson. with the formal launch of their candidacies being held on September 8, the first campaign launch to be taped and edited before broadcast in Philippine history.

Sotto and Lacson's platforms include restoring trust in the government and a better lifestyle for Filipinos, with solutions that revolved around addressing corruption. Sotto and Lacson planned to initiate an anti-corruption drive, reform the national budget, and digitalize government services.

Sotto placed third in the unofficial tally, and lost to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. On the next day, Sotto conceded, being quoted "The people have made their choice. I accept the will of the People," he said. Meanwhile his running mate Lacson, on the other hand, also lost his bid for president to Bongbong Marcos, placing fifth with nearly a million votes. In the May 2025 elections, Sotto was elected as one of the twelve senators under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate.

Minority leader (2025) When the 20th Congress convened on 28 July 2025, Sotto ran for Senate president but was defeated by Francis Escudero, who was re-elected with 19 votes to Sotto's 5. Following that, Sotto became Senate minority leader.

As Senate minority leader, Sotto opposed a motion to archive the first impeachment of Sara Duterte. He was one of four senators (the others being Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino), following a Supreme Court ruling that declared the complaint null and void ab initio and held that the Senate did not acquire jurisdiction.

Senate president (2025–2026)

On September 8, 2025, a motion was filed and approved to declare the position of Senate president vacant. Sotto was nominated by Juan Miguel Zubiri as the sole nominee, and was elected by acclamation to the Senate presidency, with fifteen senators voting in his favor.

Sotto committed to continuing Senate investigations into alleged anomalies in flood control infrastructure projects, even with the existence of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) created by President Bongbong Marcos. He said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would proceed "in aid of legislation."

On May 11, 2026, Sotto was ousted in a Senate coup staged by the minority bloc and was replaced by Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano. He later regained the minority floor leadership. On the first day of the Special Session of Congress called for by President Bongbong Marcos, Sotto was elected as Senate President Pro Tempore, and took his oath before Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, whom Sotto succeeded to the post.

Political positions Sotto has been described as a conservative by the local media because of his positions regarding social issues, owing to his Roman Catholic background. He has vocally expressed his opposition against measures on reproductive health and women's rights.

Sotto had been pushing for the restoration of the death penalty since he took office as a senator in 1992. He changed his stance on the penalty in 2021 when he entered the vice-presidential race in the upcoming 2022 presidential election, believing life imprisonment to be a better alternative. He and his presidential running mate Panfilo Lacson agree that the issue should be concentrated on improving jail conditions, advocating the construction of regional penitentiaries where criminals convicted of a heinous crime could be incarcerated if not in New Bilibid Prison.

Controversies Issues surrounding the Pepsi Paloma rape case

In 1982, the 15-year-old actress Pepsi Paloma accused Sotto's brother Vic Sotto and comedians Joey de Leon and Richie D'Horsie of gang raping and taking photos of her on June 21 in a room at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City. On July 31, Rey dela Cruz, Paloma's talent manager, lodged a formal complaint with Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile. On August 18, Paloma filed charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness against the three television personalities before the Quezon City fiscal's office. The crime of rape at the time, carried the death penalty in the Philippines, and to prevent his brother and cohorts from being sent to the electric chair, Sotto quickly went to see Paloma while she was still securing the services of Atty. Rene Cayetano. According to Paloma, Sotto coerced her into signing an "Affidavit of Desistance" to drop the rape charges against his brother and cohorts —Sotto had allegedly placed a pistol on the table in front of Paloma when he went to talk to her.

In exchange for the dismissal of the charges of rape, the accused issued a public apology towards Paloma, stating:

Three years later, Paloma was found dead in an apparent suicide. Dela Cruz was murdered years later.

On May 29, 2018, Sotto made a request to the online news site Inquirer.net to have the March 2014 articles by United States-based columnist Rodel Rodis removed: "The rape of Pepsi Paloma" After 34 years, in March 2016, Sotto denied involvement in the Pepsi Paloma rape case, stating that it was a gimmick of Dela Cruz.

In response, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) asked, "Does he believe his status and authority as Senate President give him better chances of having the stories taken down?"

On July 4, 2018, Inquirer.net took down the articles that Sotto had requested to be removed from their website. The NUJP condemned the takedown and issued a statement calling it "one of the darkest days in the annals of Philippine journalism".

As an unintended example of the Streisand effect, Sotto's takedown request of the Inquirer.net articles renewed public interest in the Paloma gang rape case.

Accusations of plagiarism In 2012, Sotto was accused of plagiarizing several passages in a speech opposing the Reproductive Health Bill Sotto has since issued an apology to the Kennedy family, but tenaciously refused to admit that he committed plagiarism in his speech. Sotto reasoned that the allegedly plagiarized passage was obtained from a text message sent by a Christian leader, which he then translated into Filipino as he found it fit for his speech without knowing that the words were Kennedy's. He also argued that he never claimed the ideas and words as his own, therefore he did not plagiarize.

Sotto was one of the two senators who have inserted provision on libel under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or Anti-Cybercrime Law. However, he denied that he did so in retaliation for the "cyberbullying" he received from Filipino netizens who criticized his alleged plagiarisms. Instead, he claimed that he intended to penalize those who release celebrity sex tapes and to allow the corresponding victims to seek redress.

Flood control projects scandal

During the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on June 4, 2026, several individuals presented by former Marines alleged that they had delivered cash-filled suitcases to a number of politicians, including Sotto. One witness that he delivered five suitcases containing between ₱40 million and ₱70 million to Sotto in 2024, before the start of the campaign period.

Personal life Sotto is married to Helen Gamboa, a beauty queen, actress, and singer on September 22, 1969. They have four children including Gian Carlo and Ciara, and eleven grandchildren, including Vicente Hugo IV.

In the 2010 elections, his son Gian Carlo was elected councilor of Quezon City's 3rd District and served for three consecutive terms before being elected as the vice mayor of the city in the 2019 elections, while his daughter Diorella Maria "Lala" was elected in the 6th District of the same city before being appointed chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2022. His nephews Vico Sotto and Viktor Eriko "Wahoo" Sotto were elected mayor of Pasig and councilor of Parañaque's 2nd District, respectively.

Sotto has enlisted in the military as a reservist in the Philippine Army since 2013, ranked as Lieutenant Colonel.

As of 2016 he was the chairman of the Philippine Bowling Federation (PBF). Sotto also plays golf and has won several tournaments. Smith & Wesson "Special participation"

Aso't Pusa Pamboy

Bawal Na Gamot Himself

Enteng Kabisote 3: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko: The Legend Goes On and On and On Nador

Iskul Bukol 20 Years After: The Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure Tito Escalera

As composer only

Year Title Note(s) . 1974 Bamboo Gods and Iron Men Fe, Esperanza, Caridad "Esperanza" segment Dynamite Wong and T.N.T. Jackson Doctor, Doctor, I Am Sick! The Exit 1976 The System The Interceptors Makahiya at Talahib 1977 The Enforcer and the Pussycats Sgt. Dalanon 1978 Blind Rage Kampus? 1981 Kasalanan Ba? 1982 Bilanggo: Prison No. 10069 Just Say You Love Me 1983 Aguila sa Puting Bato

Television

Year Title Role 1975–1976 OK Lang! Himself (host) 1975–1979 Discorama 1976–1979 Student Canteen 1978–1988 Iskul Bukol Tito Escalera 1979–present Eat Bulaga! Himself (host) 1983– Buhok Pinoy 1987–1989 Hapi House! Hapi 1991–1993 TVJ: Television Jesters Various 1992–1993 TVJ on 5 1994–1995 Rock and Roll 2000 Himself 1994–1997 Mixed N.U.T.S. (Numero Unong Terrific Show!) Various 1994–2000 Brigada Siete Himself (host/anchor) 2023–2024 Reality Check with Tito Sotto Himself (host)