FACT CHECK: Tito Sotto did not replace Sara Duterte as vice president

Claim: Vice President Sara Duterte has already resigned, and Senator Tito Sotto has been appointed as the new vice president.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim appeared on a Facebook page that poses as a news and media website and has 53,000 followers. As of writing, the post has 202 likes, 72 comments, and 12 shares.

Text overlaid on the photo reads: “VP Sara, nagresign na? Tuta Sen bagong VP? Masaya ka na Tuta Sen? People Power na!” 

(VP Sara already resigned? Tuta Sen is the new VP? Are you happy now, Tuta Sen? People Power now!)

The post’s caption claims that the growing pressure for Duterte to resign is allegedly part of a calculated political trap. It also includes a link directing readers to the full article being referenced in the post. 

The facts: Duterte remains the sitting vice president of the Philippines. There has been no official announcement from any legitimate government agency confirming her supposed resignation. Recent news reports instead show that she is still actively involved in national politics and is set to face an impeachment trial in the Senate.

The misleading claim likely stemmed from the Senate leadership change on May 11, when Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected Senate president, replacing Sotto. The leadership shift took place amid preparations for the impeachment proceedings against Duterte, with Cayetano expected to preside over the impeachment court. However, this change affects the upper chamber’s leadership structure and does not affect the Office of the Vice President, which is a separate constitutional office. 

Under Article VII, Section 9 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, a vacant vice presidency can only be filled through a presidential nomination of a vice president among Congress members and the confirmation by a majority vote of both the Senate and the House, voting separately. No such nomination or confirmation process has been reported involving Sotto, which means no constitutional succession or appointment to the vice presidency has taken place.

Impeachment trial: Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on May 11, after 257 lawmakers voted to approve the justice committee report finding probable cause on multiple complaints against her. The articles of impeachment include allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and betrayal of public trust, among others. 

The House has since transmitted the impeachment articles to the Senate, which convened as an impeachment court on May 18. The trial is set to begin on July 6. – Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com

Marjuice Destinado is the news editor for Aninaw Productions and a contributing journalist for Bulatlat. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Political Science from Cebu Normal University (CNU) and is an alumna of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2025.

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