Manila, Feb. 13 -- A group of lawyers on Friday filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to cite Senate President Vicente Sotto III in indirect contempt over his remarks on the court's nullification of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.

"Viewing all his interviews as a whole, all told, Senator Sotto, in his public scorn towards this Honorable Court, has committed improper conduct within the meaning of the Rules of Court, and is therefore, liable for indirect contempt," the petitioners said in their formal submission.

The petition cited interviews of Sotto on Jan. 30 when he said he would support charter change due to the court's alleged "meddling of the constitution."

"Senator Sotto is claiming that be...