Tito Sotto
Tito Sotto | |||||||||||||||
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Official portrait, 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| 29th & 32nd President of the Senate of the Philippines | |||||||||||||||
| Assumed office September 8, 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Francis Escudero | ||||||||||||||
| In office May 22, 2018 – June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Koko Pimentel | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Juan Miguel Zubiri | ||||||||||||||
| Senate Minority Leader | |||||||||||||||
| In office July 28, 2025 – September 8, 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Koko Pimentel | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Alan Peter Cayetano | ||||||||||||||
| In office July 28, 2014 – August 24, 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Juan Ponce Enrile | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Juan Ponce Enrile | ||||||||||||||
| In office June 3, 2002 – June 30, 2004 | |||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Nene Pimentel | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Nene Pimentel | ||||||||||||||
| Senator of the Philippines | |||||||||||||||
| Assumed office June 30, 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 2004 | |||||||||||||||
| Senate Majority Leader | |||||||||||||||
| In office July 25, 2016 – May 21, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Alan Peter Cayetano | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Juan Miguel Zubiri | ||||||||||||||
| In office July 26, 2010 – July 22, 2013 | |||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Juan Miguel Zubiri | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Gregorio Honasan (acting) | ||||||||||||||
| Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board | |||||||||||||||
| In office July 2008 – November 2009 | |||||||||||||||
| President | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | ||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Anselmo Avenido Jr. | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Antonio Villar Jr. | ||||||||||||||
| 12th Vice Mayor of Quezon City | |||||||||||||||
| In office February 2, 1988 – January 1, 1992 | |||||||||||||||
| Mayor | Brigido Simon, Jr. | ||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Amado Zabala (OIC) | ||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Alicia Herrera (OIC) | ||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||
| Born | Vicente Castelo Sotto III August 24, 1948 Manila, Philippines | ||||||||||||||
| Party | NPC (2007–present) | ||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | LDP (1988–1997, 1998–2007) KAMPI (1997–1998) | ||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||
| Children | 4 (including Gian, Lala and Ciara) | ||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Sotto family | ||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Colegio de San Juan de Letran (BA) | ||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
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| Signature | |||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | Philippines | ||||||||||||||
| Branch/service | Philippine Army | ||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 2013–present | ||||||||||||||
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel | ||||||||||||||
| Commands | 1502nd Infantry Brigade (Ready Reserve) | ||||||||||||||
| Musical career | |||||||||||||||
| Also known as | Tito Sen | ||||||||||||||
| Genres | OPM, Manila sound | ||||||||||||||
| Instruments | Vocals | ||||||||||||||
| Years active | 1960–1988 | ||||||||||||||
| Label | Vicor | ||||||||||||||
| Formerly of | VST & Company | ||||||||||||||
| Sports career | |||||||||||||||
| Country | Philippines | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | Bowling | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Vicente "Tito" Castelo Sotto III (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈsɔtɔ]; born August 24, 1948) is a Filipino politician and television personality who has served as the 32nd president of the Senate since 2025, a position he previously held from 2018 to 2022. Sotto has been a senator since 2025, having previously also served in the role from 1992 to 2004 and from 2010 to 2022. He is the longest-serving Philippine senator in history, and is the only one elected for five non-consecutive terms.
During his tenure in the upper chamber, he served as Senate majority leader and Senate minority leader before becoming Senate president. In between his Senate tenures, he led the Dangerous Drugs Board for a year. He served as the vice mayor of Quezon City from 1988 to 1992, and unsuccessfully ran for vice president in the 2022 elections as Panfilo Lacson's running mate.
Beyond politics, Sotto is a songwriter, known for founding the iconic musical group VST & Co. alongside his brothers Vic and Val Sotto, which is considered one of the best Filipino bands of all time and the "pioneer of the Manila sound". In television, he is known as a co-host of Eat Bulaga!, the longest-running variety show in Philippine television history, and has appeared in numerous television shows and films as an actor. He is colloquially dubbed "Tito Sen" by the audience.
As an athlete, Sotto was also a member of the Philippine national bowling team, representing the country several times at the AMF World Cup. He won a bronze medal in the 1978 Asian Games.