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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'No talks on Con-Ass': Sotto denies Imee's claim of bid to block VP Sara's presidential run

'No talks on Con-Ass': Sotto denies Imee's claim of bid to block VP Sara's presidential run

Published May 24, 2026 04:55 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate Minority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto on Sunday, May 24 refuted Sen. Imee Marcos' claim of a supposed plot to hold a constituent assembly (con-ass) in a bid to block Vice President Sara Duterte's presidential bid in the 2028 elections.


Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto on Sunday, May 24 refuted Sen. Imee Marcos’ claim of a supposed plot to hold a constituent assembly (con-ass) in a bid to block Vice President Sara Duterte’s presidential bid in the 2028 elections.

Sotto’s denial comes a few days after Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson called Marcos’ claims “outright lies.”

“She’s wrong. Ping is right. Never namin pinag-usapan ang con-ass. (We never talked about con-ass),” said Sotto, the former Senate president, in a message to reporters.

The President’s sister earlier claimed lawmakers held meetings at a hotel supposedly to discuss such constituent assembly, one of the three methods that can be used to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution, the fundamental law of the land.

Sotto said that while he did meet with House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, he clarified that no plans were set in stone.

“In one dinner with some golf friends and Speaker Bojie, he mentioned an idea of suggesting a regional Senate representation. I never said it’s okay. Hindi marunong makinig yun source niya (Her source doesn’t know how to listen),” Sotto pointed out.

“Ang sabi ko pa (I even said), ‘If ever there is an amendment to the (Constitution), I prefer we lower the age for President and senators.’ It’s simply friendly talk. The eavesdropper had a misconception,” Sotto added.

Marcos has been claiming that the new 11-minority bloc has been making attempts to retrieve the Senate leadership “because there is so much at stake.”

She alleged there would be a constituent assembly, and a move to extend President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s term until 2031.

Related Tags

VP Sara Duterte Tito Sotto III constituent assembly constitutional amendments Imee Marcos
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