Manila: Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday dismissed rumors of an alleged coup against Senate President Vicente Sotto III, stating that such talks are common but rarely lead to actual moves. “Basta naman nag-break tapos may balikan, parating pag-uusapan. But having said that, usually kapag maingay yan, wala yan (Whenever there’s a break, people tend to talk about things when they reconcile. But usually, when it’s noisy, there’s nothing),” Cayetano told reporters in an ambush interview.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cayetano mentioned that no attempt has been made to unseat the current Senate leadership, describing the discussions as part of the usual political conversations among the chamber’s members. “Wala namang attempt (There was no attempt). People always talk about it. Everyone in the minority wants to be in the majority, diba? Everyone thinks they can do a better job,” he stated.
Cayetano emphasized that the minority bloc is focused on its role in shaping national priorities, particularly in the upcoming budget deliberations. “I think our biggest job now is to give better ideas for the budget. Renewal ito eh. Hindi ito ordinary lang na parang ‘let’s do it better.’ Hindi, ‘let’s redo everything (This is a renewal. It’s not just about doing things better-it’s about redoing everything),” he explained.
He added that the minority will actively participate in budget debates and Blue Ribbon Committee hearings to help ensure sound policy direction. Earlier, Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed that discussions about a possible leadership change had circulated among senators but downplayed their significance. “There are one or two stories about someone talking to others-that’s all,” Sotto remarked, adding that the Senate President’s position always depends on the “wisdom and trust” of his colleagues.
The rumors surfaced as Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson is set to be re-elected as Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson, following internal disagreements over the flood control investigation.
