Text of Senator Sotto’s vote and explanation

Article II of the Articles of Impeachment states that respondent committed culpable violation of the Constitution and/or betrayed the public trust when he failed to disclose to the public his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth. I have come across Supreme Court decisions whereby lower court judges had been dismissed and deprived of all their benefits for simple infractions of law or missteps in judicial conduct. Should the same strict measures ought to be applied to the Members of the Supreme Court? Let’s put that aside. After 43 days, this trial has been heard by the people. The Constitution mandates that the Senate try impeachment cases. Ang taumbayan ay naghahalal ng mga Senador mula sa iba’t-ibang propesyon at estado ng lipunan, upang sila’y katawanin at bumigkas ng kanilang saloobin. Ang tunay na hukom sa paglilitis na ito ay ang taong bayan. Nadinig nila ang dalawang panig. Tulad namin, hindi sila lahat abogado. Ngunit ang kapangyarihan ng demokrasya ay nasa kanilang mga kamay. In my conscience I have heard their decision. And for them, I vote guilty.