Latest news with #Sotto
Times
2 days ago
- General
- Times
Braised lamb by Sotto in Edinburgh recipe
T his is a recipe we've been doing to showcase some brilliant late springtime Scottish produce made using classic Italian techniques. This is a great dish for a dinner party as you can prepare it in advance, and sauté the veg fresh at the end to give the dish a nice lift. • Sotto, Edinburgh restaurant review Serves 4 • 800g lamb shoulder • 90ml extra-virgin olive oil • 2 small white onions • 2 carrots• 3 stalks of celery• 2 cloves of garlic• 3 generous glasses of red wine• 250ml beef stock • 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary • 4 sprigs of fresh thyme• 100g broad beans• 100g peas• 2 artichokes • 1 small red chilli, deseeded • Handful of fresh mint, chopped 1. Generously season the lamb with salt and black pepper. Heat a deep saucepan over a high heat then brown the lamb all over for 10 min. Remove the lamb and set aside. 2. Add 2 tbsp olive oil to the same pan and sauté the onions until soft but not brown. Next, add the carrots, celery, one garlic clove and lightly brown. Return the lamb to the pan. Pour over the wine and beef stock and bring to the boil. 3. Season with salt, pepper, the rosemary and thyme. Turn down to simmer, then cook over lowest heat for about 1½ to 2 hours or until the lamb is tender. 4. Blanch the broad beans and peas in boiling water for 30 seconds. Prepare the artichokes by removing all the hard leaves and with a small spoon remove the choke (the fuzzy, inedible centre). Discard these and slice the rest. 5. In a pan, heat the remaining oil. Add the other garlic clove and fresh chilli. Add the sliced artichokes, broad beans and peas and let them cook for 4-5 min, adding the chopped mint right at the end. Serve alongside the lamb and its jus. Francesco Ascrizzi is the head chef at Sotto Enoteca & Trattoria in Stockbridge,
Filipino Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Sotto slams Senate ruling on Sara Duterte impeachment
Senator-elect Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III has sharply criticized the Senate's move to remand the impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte, calling the decision procedurally flawed and urging his fellow senator-judges to revisit the rules. 'The Senate Court's decision is flawed! A senator-judge cannot file a motion,' Sotto told reporters via text message. He emphasized that only defense or prosecution lawyers are allowed to make such motions, a point he said he learned from the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the 11th Congress. Sotto was referring to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano's motion to send the impeachment case back to the House of Representatives. That motion, an amended version of Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa's earlier motion to dismiss the case outright, passed with an 18-5 vote on June 10. Pressed on how the Senate could remedy the situation, Sotto said they should move on but learn from the misstep. He also suggested senator-judges review their duties and consider changing their legal advisers. 'They should just leave that in the dustbin of history. Don't repeat the mistake. Senator-judges should review the role of a judge—and replace the lawyers around them,' he said. He urged new senators to study past impeachment proceedings, particularly during the trial of President Joseph Estrada, where Santiago emphasized judicial conduct and procedures. 'Study first before speaking out,' Sotto added. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Impeachment Court, lawyer Regie Tongol, defended the Senate's decision. He likened senator-judges to members of the Supreme Court, who have the inherent power to review complaints for legal sufficiency. 'It's normal in a collegial judicial body to assess documents. If a defect is raised, the court can ask the House to address it,' Tongol explained. The court set two requirements for the House: a certification that the verified complaint doesn't violate the Constitution, and a reaffirmation that lawmakers intend to pursue the trial. As of Friday morning, the court had yet to formally receive the House's certification. Tongol noted it was only released to the media so far. When asked whether non-compliance by the House could lead to contempt, Tongol said it was unlikely, stressing that the Senate is trying to avoid a constitutional standoff. 'The Impeachment Court is doing everything it can to prevent a clash with the House or a potential constitutional crisis,' he said.
GMA Network
11-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Remanding VP Sara's impeachment case to House 'unnecessary' — Tito Sotto
Vice President Sara Duterte attends a legislative inquiry into her office's use of public funds at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on November 25, 2024. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Senator-elect Vicente "Tito" Sotto III questioned Wednesday the move of the Senate to return to the House of Representatives the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. Sotto, a former Senate president, said remanding the case to the House of Representatives of the 19th Congress was "unnecessary" as the latter was the one which filed the impeachment. "The HOR of the 20th Congress is the proper body to be asked by the Senate Impeachment Court of the 20th Congress if they so desire," Sotto told reporters in a Viber message. "The better term is ratification of the articles of impeachment filed by the HOR (House of Representatives) of the 19th Congress. It can be by simple resolution," Sotto added. Sotto also pointed out that there is a presumption of regularity in the performance of official functions. "The plenary is not supreme, the Constitution is; and ultimately, the sovereign is—the People," Sotto stressed. He also said the declaration of unconstitutionality "is the exclusive domain of the Supreme Court, not the Senate or the impeachment court." During a plenary session on Tuesday, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa made a motion seeking that the verified impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte be dismissed "in view of its constitutional infirmities and questions on the jurisdiction and authority of the 20th Congress." Escudero then ruled that the impeachment court should first be convened first before acting on any motion to dismiss the impeachment complaint. When the impeachment court was convened, senators debated on Dela Rosa's motion for hours. Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano then moved to amend Dela Rosa's motion that the articles of impeachment be returned to the House of Representatives instead without dismissing or terminating the case until such time that: The House of Representatives certify to the non violation of Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which provides that "No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within one year; include the circumstances on the filing of the first three impeachment complaints"; and The House of Representatives of the 20th Congress communicates to the Senate that it is willing and ready to pursue the impeachment complaint against the Vice President. The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, eventually voted to remand to the House of Representatives the articles of impeachment, with a vote of 18 affirmative, five negative, and no abstentions. Escudero, as the presiding officer of the impeachment court, also issued a writ of summons to Duterte, giving her a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of the summons to answer. The Office of the Vice President confirmed receipt of the writ of summons issued by the Senate impeachment court at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
28-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Tito Sotto attests to Marcos' objection to VP Sara impeachment
Senator-elect Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III on Wednesday attested to the previous statement of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong Marcos Jr. emphasizing his objection to the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. 'I will attest to the fact that in number of times that in those moments that we are able to talk with the President… Bongbong Marcos during the course of the campaign, he was really inclined not to support the impeachment,' Sotto shared during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum. Sotto ran his 2025 campaign under the Marcos administration's Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate. 'I believe, yung sinabi niya nung una baka raw makagulo sa takbo ng ekonomiya, ng gobyerno. He is reiterating it now. I agree because narinig ko sa kanya yun. I can attest the fact that he really means that he is not in favor of the impeachment process at this point,' the senator-elect added. ('I believe, what he said at first is that how the economy, the government being run might suffer. He is reiterating it now. I agree because I heard it from him. I can attest the fact that he really means that he is not in favor of the impeachment process at this point.) In a recent interview, Marcos said he does not think the impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte, his running mate in the 2022 presidential elections, will result in political turmoil, but reiterated he didn't want the impeachment in the House of Representatives. Asked if the views of the President should be followed by his allies in the Senate, Sotto emphasized the upper chamber's independence. 'Yes, in the political world, but as far as the Senate world is concerned, the Senate has never been fully controlled by any President,' Sotto said. The returning senator cited his experience from his previous terms, particularly on the President's preference for the Senate presidency. 'Hindi lahat ng pagkakataon ang Presidente ay nakikialam sa Senado at pwedeng makialam... Merong may mga nag-attempt na makialam pero hindi rin nasusunod eh,' he said. (It's not all the time that the President interferes with the Senate and is not allowed to… There were previous attempts but they did not succeed.) Among the instances that he recalled was the time of former president Fidel Ramos when he asked the upper chamber to elect someone from his party, Lakas-CMD, as Senate president. 'He was a Lakas party stalwart, but we elected an LDP president, Senator Neptali Gonzales. We do not follow the wishes of President Fidel V. Ramos who (had) only three members of Lakas in the Senate during that time,' he said. The same happened during the time of late former president Benigno Aquino III, when the latter wished for a Senate president from the Liberal Party, but the senators elected former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile instead. During the time of former president Joseph Estrada, Sotto said they 'acceded' to the latter's wish to elect his preferred Senate president. Former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Rodrigo Duterte did not interfere with the election of the Senate presidents during their terms, Sotto said. ''Di ko na-experience na ang presidente ay nakikialam sa Senado,' he said. (I did not experience a President interfering with the Senate.) Meanwhile, Sotto said that there are no so-called independent blocs in the Senate. 'In the 20th Congress, I know there'll be a majority and a minority. I don't foresee what I heard from another colleague who said merong independent bloc. There's no such thing. Why? You're either with the majority or not. So, therefore, if you're not in the majority, you're in the minority,' he said. 'If you vote to elect a Senate president, you are in the majority. Ganoon kasimple lang naman 'yun. Walang ibang interpretasyon doon. Personal na interpretasyon nila siguro… you are either in the majority or the minority,' he explained. (It's that simple. There is no other interpretation there. Perhaps it's their interpretation.) Recently, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros mentioned forming an independent bloc with senators-elect Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan and Bam Aquino should they not get the minority bloc due to the group of senators allied with former president Duterte who branded themselves as the opposition to the Marcos administration. Senate presidency In the same forum, Sotto expressed doubt that incumbent Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero, his supposed partymate in the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), will toe the party line as the race for the Senate presidency for the 20th Congress heats up. According to Sotto, Escudero filed a leave from NPC. He did not mention when Escudero left the party. Asked if they expect the NPC to have the highest number of seats in the 20th Congress, Sotto said, 'Kung susunod [si Chiz Escudero]. Alam mo naman, sabi ko nga sa'yo, hindi na natin alam yung alliances (Like what I said, we don't know of these alliances) ngayon ng party sa Senado because we don't know how the relationship of my former colleagues or my colleagues there are situated.' Several senators of the 20th Congress have confirmed that Sotto and Escudero were discussing with them their bid for the Senate's top post, namely Senators Bong Go, Erwin Tulfo, and Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa. Apart from Sotto and Escudero, Senator Imee Marcos recently said that some of their colleagues offered their support if she will run for the Senate presidency. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Chiz, Tito reached out to discuss Senate presidency, Bong Go confirms
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero and senator-elect Vicente "Tito" Sotto III have separately asked Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go for his support in their respective bids for the Senate leadership in the 20th Congress, Go told reporters on Wednesday. Go said their group which also includes Duterte-allied senators Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and Robin Padilla, and senator-elect Rodante Marcoleta will vote as a bloc on the Senate presidency. 'Marami pa pong ibang nakikipag-usap din po sa amin, but we are open sa lahat po ng pag-uusap basta ang criteria namin unahin 'yung interes ng bayan, interes ng bawat Pilipino at independent Senate po ito,' Go said in an interview with reporters. (Many have been speaking with us, but we are open to all discussions. Our criteria is to prioritize the interest of the country, of every Filipino, and an independent Senate.) Asked if both Escudero and Sotto had asked for his support, Go said answered in the affirmative repeatedly. 'From our group, yes,' Go said. 'Lahat naman po sila initially nakikipag-usap individually or as a group.' (All of them are initially talking to us individually or as a group.) GMA News Online has sought comments from both Escudero and Sotto and will publish them as soon as they are available. When asked if their bloc will field someone for the Senate president race, Go said any senator had the right to run for Senate President. On Saturday, senator-elect Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson said that there are at least 13 incumbent and incoming senators of the 20th Congress who have expressed preference for a Senate president who is 'independent, transparent, and competent.' Lacson, a close political ally of Sotto, said this sentiment was based on individual discussions with majority of 20th Congress senators. Installing a new Senate president requires 13 votes from the 24-member legislative chamber. Before this, Sotto disclosed that three to four senators have approached him about his return to the Senate presidency in the 20th Congress. –NB, GMA Integrated News
