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Neil Jayson Servallos - The Philippine Star
April 21, 2026 | 12:00am
Salvador Panelo and Vicente Sotto III
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — Stressing that the Senate will remain impartial, Senate President Vicente Sotto III has denounced lawyer Salvador Panelo’s claim that four senators would vote to convict Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Does Panelo have a crystal ball? We will remain impartial and wait for whatever will be presented. I resent that allegation,” Sotto said yesterday.
Panelo earlier claimed that Sotto and Senators Panfilo Lacson, Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan have made up their minds in the upcoming impeachment trial of the Vice President.
The Senate is laying the groundwork for the potential transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives.
Sotto confirmed holding an informal dinner meeting with majority bloc members to discuss the impending political and legal battle, though he clarified it was not an official Senate caucus.
Anticipating his crucial role as presiding officer of the impeachment court, Sotto revealed he is taking a legal refresher course to ensure proceedings run smoothly.
Duterte is accused of betrayal of public trust and misuse of confidential funds, among others.
Lacson, Senate president pro tempore, earlier disclosed that his colleagues in the majority bloc are preparing for attempts by Duterte’s allies in the minority to block or derail proceedings.
COA disallows P375 million in OVP funds
State auditors have directed the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to return a total of P448.2 million in confidential funds that have been subjected to notices of disallowance.
Based on the Commission on Audit (COA)’s March 31 notice of disallowance disclosed by Rep. Terry Ridon, the amount comprises P375 million in cash advances for confidential expenses that the OVP must “personally return” and P73.2 million in a return order that has reached “finality.”
The OVP incurred these expenditures between February and September 2023.
Not included in the amount is P300 million in taxpayers’ money that the COA had “disallowed with finality,” signed recently by COA chief Gamaliel Cordoba and others.
The OVP did not comment on the COA’s order, saying it has not received a copy of the decision. — Delon Porcalla, Evelyn Macairan
