The Supreme Court of the Philippines has directed Senate President Tito Sotto to comment on his public statements criticizing its ruling that declared the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional.
The order stems from remarks made by Sotto following the court’s decision last year. He described the ruling as a “sad day for Constitutional Law” and accused the tribunal of committing judicial overreach and judicial legislation.
Sotto also raised the possibility of amending the Constitution to limit the powers of the judiciary.
A petition filed by a group of lawyers — Atty. Manuelito Luna, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Atty. Harold Respicio, and Atty. Virgilio Garcia — along with businesswoman Cathy Binag, argued that Sotto’s statements could erode public trust in the judiciary.
The petitioners said such comments carry broader implications, especially when coming from a high-ranking government official. They warned that the remarks could damage the reputation of the Supreme Court and influence public perception of its independence.
In response, the Supreme Court clarified that its directive for Sotto to submit a comment does not mean the petition has been accepted or that any ruling has been made on the case.
The court said the order is part of its standard procedure in evaluating complaints and gathering responses from involved parties before taking further action.
