Vico Sotto cited as bill filed to lower age requirement for presidential candidates

Several members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday proposed to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution to lower the age requirement for candidates for president, vice president and senators, saying there is a need for young blood with fresh perspectives in the high leadership roles.

Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union, one of the proponents of Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 (RBH 2), cited Pasig City Mayor Vico as among the young leaders who could eventually benefit from the measure, but stressed his popularity stems from his work.

“Mayor Vico is very popular, but his popularity stems from his work. He is not popular due to his surname or his parents. And when you are a public servant, that should be your end goal: for the people to talk about your work, not your name,” Ortega said in a news conference.

“There are a lot of young and bright public servants. It's hard to answer for them, but right now, you see the popularity of Vico Sotto, but just here in the House, a lot of my colleagues are young, idealistic and dedicated. There is no limit on who will benefit from this measure,” he added.

The lawmaker also clarified that the proposal is not intended to clear the way for Sotto's 2028 purported presidential run. 

Sotto will just be 38 years old on election day of the May 2028 national polls and therefore, is not age-eligible to run for vice president or president.

“We're not looking at the personalities. We're looking at the institution to create a more vibrant brand of public servants. And this bill carries a huge responsibility for the young ones who will be eligible to run for higher positions because hindi lang po dahil bata ka, pwede ka na,” Ortega added.

(Just because you are young, you are already qualified to serve.)

After winning his third term as Pasig mayor in the May 2025 elections, Sotto said in June that he would not run in the 2028 polls.

He said his early announcement frees him from political pressure and allows him to fully focus on his mandate during his last term.

Ortega along with Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong, collectively known as the "young guns" in the House filed RBH 2 to amend the 1987 Constitution through a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con).

Under this mode, voters will elect Con-Con delegates who will then propose the amendments, subject to the ratification or approval of the majority of voters.

The measure brings down the minimum age requirement for Senate bets from 35 to 30, while the minimum age requirement for those seeking to run for president and vice president is lowered to 35 from 40.

“38 years since the ratification of the Constitution, the Philippines has undergone major demographic and social shifts, with more than 52% of the population under the age of 30, reflecting a vibrant, dynamic, and increasingly educated youth sector,” the Resolution read.

“Leadership is not about age but about vision. By opening the highest offices to leaders as young as 35, we give the Filipino people a chance to be led by the energy and creativity of the youth, ready to carry the nation forward,” it added.—LDF, GMA Integrated News