SENATE President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday rejected Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s proposal to hold snap elections to restore public trust in government, saying there is no legal or constitutional provision that allows it.
“There is no legal or constitutional basis or framework to do that. It’s an opinion of a legislator, so I’ll leave it at that. Hindi pwedeng gawin yun at the moment,” Sotto said in a press briefing at the Senate.
Cayetano earlier suggested conducting snap elections for both the executive and legislative branches to give Filipinos a “fresh start” amid controversies involving corruption and misuse of public funds.
Sotto, however, stressed that rebuilding public trust depends on transparency, accountability, and an effective justice system — not on resetting the political landscape.
“I have vowed that the budget process in the Senate will be transparent and accountable. Everything will be done within the purview of the public,” he said, adding that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) should also open its deliberations to the public.
He emphasized that restoring confidence in government requires the judiciary to prosecute and convict those guilty of wrongdoing. “There should be prosecutions and convictions of those found guilty,” Sotto said.
The Senate leader added that trust in government will return once people see that funds are used properly, investigations are thorough, and the courts are fair and decisive.
When asked about Cayetano’s suggestion for all officials — including the President and lawmakers — to resign for a “clean slate,” Sotto dismissed it as unfair and impractical.
“It cannot be an option. What about those who are not guilty or those who were newly elected with clean records? Why should they be included with the guilty?” he said. “That idea is far-fetched. If that happens, we’ll be entering uncertainty and chaos in the political world.”
