MANILA – Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was elected Senate president on Monday in a leadership revamp that removed Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III from the chamber’s top post amid a possible impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Broken down, 13 senators voted to elect Cayetano while nine voted for Sotto. Two senators abstained.
The Senate coup triggered a crucial question as to the fate of the House of Representatives’ impeachment of Duterte-Carpio – will it lead to a Senate trial or not?
Cayetano is a known ally of the Vice President.
The Senate leadership reorganization took place during a plenary session after Sen. Joel Villanueva introduced a motion declaring all Senate leadership positions vacant, including the Senate presidency.
Sotto, who was presiding over the session, immediately asked senators to publicly identify themselves and state their votes on the motion.
He voted against the proposal to dissolve the existing leadership.
Despite Sotto’s objection, a majority of senators supported the motion, resulting in the termination of the current Senate leadership and opening the way for the election of a new Senate President.
Sen. Imee Marcos nominated Cayetano as the new Senate president.
Cayetano later secured enough votes to assume the Senate presidency.
Those who voted for Cayetano were senators Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Ronaldo Dela Rosa, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Joel Villanueva, Robin Padilla, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, Rodante Marcoleta, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Sotto.
Those who voted for Sotto were Panfilo Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Francis Pangilinan, Serwin Gatchalian, Lito Lapid, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, and Alan Peter Cayetano.
Senators JV Ejercito and Migz Zubiri abstained.
Cayetano’s election was strengthened by the return of Dela Rosa, who attended the plenary session after months of absence.
Dela Rosa’s presence boosted the numbers of senators backing the leadership change.
The Senate shakeup came amid heightened tensions over the possible impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, an issue that has reportedly divided lawmakers in the upper chamber.
Before his election as Senate President, Cayetano headed the Senate minority bloc and has long been identified as an ally of the Duterte family.
Since taking the Senate presidency from his predecessor, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, in September 2025, Sotto’s leadership had been hounded by coup rumors following an investigation by the blue ribbon committee into alleged corruption linked to the government’s flood control projects.
Sotto has repeatedly said that he was only serving at the pleasure of his colleagues.
“I uphold and follow the Constitution! I leave everything to God’s plan. I trust HIS heart!” he was quoted as saying on Sunday.
After his election, Cayetano took his oath as the new Senate president before Sen. Camille Villar. He was joined by his wife, Taguig City’s Mayor Lani Cayetano, and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano.
Sen. Loren Legarda was also elected as Senate president pro tempore, and took her oath./PN