SC asks SP Sotto to comment on petition asking to cite him in indirect contempt

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to comment on a petition asking the High Court to cite him for indirect contempt over his criticisms following the court’s ruling on the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a resolution, the SC En Banc required Sotto to comment on the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice.

“The Resolution was sent to the respondent on May 4, 2026. Pursuant to the Resolution, the respondent must submit the comment within ten (10) days from receipt of notice, or by May 14, 2026,” SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said.

The SC said this was “without necessarily giving due course to the petition.”

Lawyers Ferdinand Topacio, Manuelito Delos Reyes Luna, Harold Respicio, Mary Catherine Diaz Binag, and Virgilio Garcia filed their petition in February.

Topacio said they believe Sotto’s statements trespassed legitimate commentary and transgressed into statements that tend to destroy the credibility and undermine the faith of the people in the SC.

The senator previously claimed that the Constitution was “amended unconstitutionally” through the SC’s alleged overreach. He said it would take decades to correct the “misinterpretation.”

This came after the SC En Banc “denied with finality” the motion for reconsideration filed by the House, which sought to reverse the decision that declared the articles of impeachment against Duterte as unconstitutional.

For his part, Sotto said he will file his comment soon.

Sotto previously brushed aside the petition as “a mere publicity stunt” and a “nuisance suit,” saying it has no legal or factual basis. —RF, GMA News