No coup attempt vs Sotto — Cayetano

A SENATOR on Wednesday said that there is no attempt by the minority bloc to remove Senate President Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III, amid rumors of another leadership shakeup in the chamber.

“There is no active courting of signatures like before,” Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter S. Cayetano told a news briefing, following alleged talks of another change in the Senate’s leadership.

The rumors of a possible shakeup could have come from both the supporters of the majority and minority blocs, he said.

“We in the minority are not talking about whether there is someone, or who it might be, or how and what would happen. Because we think that the majority is still happy, and I think we have a role to play in the minority,” Mr. Cayetano said.

He added that the Senate should instead focus on its investigation into the multi-billion-peso flood control scandal.

“The Senate must continue to be the salt and light — the institution that provides a vision for our people. Right now, the Senate should be part of the solution, not the problem,” he said.

Last month, the Senate appointed Mr. Sotto as Senate president amid concerns over former Senate chief Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero’s links to the flood control controversy.

The Senate is investigating irregularities in multi-billion-peso flood control projects, following reports that lawmakers and officials received kickbacks from infrastructure funds allocated since 2022. — Adrian H. Halili