Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said on Wednesday that no leadership changes are expected in the Senate before the chamber adjourns for the Undas break on Friday.
At a press conference, Cayetano denied reports that a resolution was being circulated to replace Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
“Wala… I don’t think so. I think birthday na handa ni Senator Escudero,” Cayetano quipped, referring to Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s birthday on October 10.
Just last month, Sotto took over the Senate presidency after the position was declared vacant during a plenary session, a move that went unopposed.
Currently, the majority bloc is composed of 15 members, while the minority bloc—led by Cayetano and joined by the so-called Duterte bloc—has nine members. The minority would need at least four additional senators to form a new majority and trigger a leadership change.
Cayetano, however, clarified that there is no active effort to recruit senators from the majority.
“Walang active ano ngayon, but if it falls on our lap, sumama ‘yung iba, etc. Kung oposisyon, you always want to be administrasyon. Kung minority ka, you always want to be majority,” he said.
He added that both sides have their supporters actively expressing loyalty and conviction.
“But I really think right now, it’s more of our supporters. Vigilant ang supporters ni Senator Sotto and the majority na ‘wag silang mapalitan kasi they believe in what they’re doing. Pero very enthusiastic, active ang supporters ng minority dahil naniniwala din sila na may magagawa kaming mabuti,” Cayetano said.
Earlier this week, Sotto expressed confidence that he still enjoys the trust and backing of most senators despite persistent talks of some members possibly leaving the majority bloc.