Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Sunday denied claims by Senator Imee Marcos that a recent dinner meeting with Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III at a luxury hotel involved discussions on Charter change and possible term extensions for top government officials.
In a Viber message to reporters, Sotto said Marcos’ source was wrong in claiming that the meeting touched on a supposed plan to convene Congress as a Constituent Assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution, including proposals that could extend the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other incumbent officials.
“She is wrong. Ping was right. We never discussed Con-Ass,” Sotto said, referring to Senator Panfilo Lacson, who had also denied the allegation.
According to the former Senate President, the gathering was a private dinner with golf friends and Speaker Dy, where the only constitutional idea mentioned was regional representation in the Senate.
“In one dinner with some golf friends and Speaker Bojie, he mentioned an idea suggesting a regional Senate representation. I never said it’s okay. Her source does not know how to listen well,” Sotto said.
Marcos earlier alleged that political moves surrounding the reported attempt to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa were part of a broader effort to regain control of the Senate leadership and open the door to Charter change.
She claimed that some political groups were seeking to unseat Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano because “there was so much at stake,” including an alleged push for a Con-Ass that could lead to a no-election scenario for national posts in 2028. Marcos said the supposed plan could extend the terms of incumbent officials, including members of Congress and President Marcos, until 2031.
She also alleged that another proposal involved raising the minimum age requirement for presidential candidates from 45 to 50, a move she said could disqualify Vice President Sara Duterte from running.
Sotto rejected the claim, saying his personal view was the opposite.
“I also said that 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,” he said.
In a Facebook post, Marcos challenged Lacson’s denial and asked whether he was present at the Solaire meeting. Her post included an art card quoting Lacson as supposedly saying that Con-Ass was never discussed in their minority caucuses.
Lacson’s office, however, denied that the senators made such a statement in the context alleged by Marcos.
In a separate radio interview, Lacson dismissed Marcos’ claim as false, saying he and other senators frequently meet but have never discussed Charter change.
“Flat lies, outright lies,” Lacson said in Filipino. “We meet frequently but never talk about it. Whoever cooked up that tale, we don’t know what they were trying to get.”
He added that those making the allegations should present proof.
“I don’t know where those came from. If those who are spinning those stories have proof, then it’s up to them,” Lacson said.