House leaders want con-con to lower age rule for president, VP, senator

MANILA, Philippines — Several leaders of the House majority bloc filed a resolution seeking a constitutional convention to lower the minimum age required for a president, vice president and senator.

Since the 1987 Constitution sets the qualifications for top elective posts, Congress must follow one of three paths to amend the country’s charter. It can either:

• Convene a constituent assembly, requiring approval from three-fourths of all lawmakers in the House and Senate
• Launch a people’s initiative, requiring signatures from at least 12% of registered voters
• Call a constitutional convention, to be approved by two-thirds of Congress, where delegates are elected by the public to review and propose amendments to the Constitution

House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V filed on Wednesday, September 3, House Resolution of Both Houses 2, specifically calling for a constitutional convention. 

Under Article VI and VII of the Constitution, candidates for president or vice president must be at least 40, and those running for a Senate seat must be at least 35 on election day.

What seven House members are seeking is to lower the minimum age for president and vice president to 35, while 30 for senator.

'More youth in public service'  

According to the resolution, the rationale for lowering the age requirements is tied to the reportedly growing number of Filipinos under 30. 

By amending the age requirement, the lawmakers believe youth representation in government will be strengthened alongside “intergenerational leadership.” 

“[T]hirty-eight years since the ratification of the Constitution, the Philippines has undergone major demographic and social shifts,” it read. 

“[T]he Filipino youth are globally competitive, socially aware, and capable of national leadership, as demonstrated by their significant roles in public service, innovation, civil society, and local governance,” the resolution added. 

The House leaders also said that lowering the age requirement would align the Philippines with that of the United States, where a president can be as young as 35 years old. 

The resolution was introduced by members of the “Young Guns” bloc. This includes Ortega, Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun and Deputy Majority Leaders Ernix Dionisio Jr., Zia Alonto Adiong, Rodge Gutierrez, and Eduardo Rama. It was also co-authored by Rep. Lordan Suan (Cagayan de Oro City, 1st District). 

“Panahon na para marinig ang tinig ng bagong henerasyon. … By opening the highest offices to leaders as young as 35, we give the Filipino people a chance to be led by the energy and creativity of the youth, ready to carry the nation forward,” the lawmakers said in a statement.

Are they looking for a 2028 presidential bet? 

During a press conference, however, reporters asked Ortega what triggered the filing of the resolution. 

He was questioned specifically on the findings of a recently released Tangere survey showing Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto as a potential contender against Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2028 presidential elections, if the age requirement were lowered.

Sotto is currently 36 years old and would meet the age qualification for president should he pursue a presidential bid. 

But Ortega said that the survey wasn’t what prompted the resolution's filing, arguing that ideas to lower the minimum age requirement of top elected posts have been thrown around for years. 

At the same time, Ortega pointed out aspects of Sotto’s career that may have led people to hope he could run for a national office. 

He mentioned how the Pasig Mayor is already on his third and last term as mayor, and how he is “very popular” because of his initiatives in local government.   

“Pero antagal na rin ni Mayor Vico, entering his last term ‘di ba? But again he’s very popular, you can give him that, pero popular siya dahil sa ginagawa niyang trabaho. Hindi siya popular because he’s a Sotto. He’s not just popular because of his parents,” Ortega said. (But Mayor Vico has been around for a while, and he’s entering his last term, right? But again, he’s very popular, you can give him that. He’s popular because of the work he’s doing, not because he’s a Sotto. He’s not just popular because of his parents.)

Ortega also went on to say that Sotto has “gone beyond” the usual dynamics of political fame, distinguishing himself through action rather than relying on long-established family names.

“And when you’re a public servant, yun ang end goal mo: pagusapan ang ginagawa mo saka yung legacy na iiwan mo, hindi pagusapan ka dahil sa pangalan mo, apelyido mo,” he said. (And when you’re a public servant, that should be your end goal: to have your work and the legacy you leave behind talked about, not to be talked about because of your name or your family surname.)

The deputy speaker, however, noted that it is still too early to say who will run in the 2028 national and local elections. 

Despite suggestions that he run for national office, which his father Vic Sotto once joked about, the Pasig mayor said he does not intend to run in the 2028 elections.