Vicente "Tito" Sotto III
Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III is a veteran Filipino politician, TV host, actor, and musician. Born on August 24, 1948, Sotto is one of the country's most recognizable public figures with a career spanning entertainment, sports, and politics. Before entering politics, he was known as part of the popular comedy trio 'Tito, Vic & Joey' and co-hosted the long-running noontime show 'Eat Bulaga.' Sotto first entered the Senate in 1992, topping the senatorial race with nearly 12 million votes. Throughout his political career, he has served multiple terms as a Senator, including a stint as Senate President from 2018 to 2022. In the most recent phase of his political journey, he ran for Vice President in the 2022 elections as the running mate of Panfilo Lacson but was unsuccessful. Now, he is seeking a return to the Senate in the 2025 elections.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in English, Colegio de San Juan de Letran
Career Highlights
- Senate President (2018-2022)
- Senate Majority Floor Leader (2016-2018)
- Senator of the Philippines (1992-2004, 2010-2022)
- Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (2008-2009)
- Vice Chairman of Citizens' Drugwatch
- Successful career as TV host, actor, and musician
- Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges
Key Platforms
Anti-Fake News Legislation
Vows to repush his contentious anti-fake news bill that aims to combat misinformation, particularly on social media platforms.
Anti-Drug Campaign
Continues his long-standing advocacy against illegal drugs, building on his authorship of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and his role in establishing the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Budget Scrutiny
Aims to return to the Senate to scrutinize the national government budget and push for responsible fiscal management.
Government Rightsizing
Advocates for the rightsizing of the bureaucracy to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary government spending.
Agricultural Development
Recognizes the importance of agriculture to economic growth and supports programs to enhance the agricultural sector, which contributed 10.18% to GDP in 2020.
Track Record
Legislative Productivity
Sponsored and authored more than a hundred laws during his time in the Senate, making him one of the most prolific senators in the country.
Anti-Drug Legislation
Authored the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which created the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Senate Leadership
Served as Senate President from 2018 to 2022, demonstrating his leadership capabilities and the trust of his colleagues.
Perfect Attendance
Maintained a record of perfect attendance during his Senate tenure, demonstrating his commitment to his legislative duties.
Legal Cases & Controversies
Plagiarism Accusations
In 2012, Sotto was accused of plagiarizing several passages in a speech opposing the Reproductive Health Bill in the Philippine Senate. He was alleged to have taken passages from a 2011 blog entry by Sarah Pope without proper attribution. Sotto denied the allegations, claiming he was quoting Natasha Campbell-McBride. In a separate incident, he was also accused of plagiarizing a portion of Robert F. Kennedy's 1966 Day of Affirmation speech without citing the source.
Pepsi Paloma Controversy
Sotto has been linked to a controversial case involving the late actress Pepsi Paloma, who in 1982 accused comedians Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Richie D'Horsie of rape. According to some accounts, Tito Sotto allegedly helped cover up the story and pressured Paloma to drop the legal case. Sotto has consistently denied any wrongdoing and recently claimed the rape allegations were merely a publicity stunt orchestrated by Paloma's manager, Rey dela Cruz.
Positions on Key Issues
| Issue | Position |
|---|---|
| Economy | Advocates for careful scrutiny of the national budget and fiscal responsibility. Supports economic policies that promote growth while ensuring proper allocation of resources. |
| Education | Has supported various educational initiatives during his Senate terms, though specific proposals for the 2025 election are not extensively detailed in public sources. |
| Healthcare | Previously took a stance against the Reproductive Health Bill. Current healthcare positions for the 2025 election are not extensively detailed in public sources. |
| Environment | Limited specific information available on his environmental platform for the 2025 election. |
| Labor | Limited specific information available on his labor policies for the 2025 election. |
| Agriculture | Recognizes agriculture as a vital economic sector and supports programs to enhance agricultural development and productivity. |
| Governance | Advocates for government rightsizing to improve efficiency. Pushes for transparency and accountability in government operations. |
| Foreign Policy | Limited specific information available on his foreign policy positions for the 2025 election. |
| Charter Change | Limited specific information available on his position regarding Charter Change for the 2025 election. |
| Lgbtq Rights | Has previously expressed conservative views on LGBTQIA+ issues, including criticism of the SOGIE Equality Bill, which he described as potentially undermining women's rights. |
| Drug War | Strongly supports anti-drug initiatives, having authored the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Advocates for the creation of a presidential drug enforcement authority. |
| Icc | Limited specific information available on his position regarding the ICC investigation for the 2025 election. |
Sources & Citations
- https://www.rappler.com/philippines/elections/tito-sotto-files-coc-senate-2025-elections/
- https://www.inquirer.net/2025-philippine-elections/voteph-candidate-profile/tito-sotto/
- https://rollingstonephilippines.com/state-of-affairs/2025-philippine-elections-senatorial-primer-tito-sotto/
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon/2025/candidates/tito-sotto/
- https://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1234569
- https://vicentesotto.com/
- https://vicentesotto.com/platforms-programs
- http://web.senate.gov.ph/senators/former_senators/vicente_sotto_iii.htm
- https://www.rappler.com/nation/203248-tito-sotto-list-accomplishments-bills/
This profile is regularly updated with verified information from reliable sources. Last updated: April 24, 2025