Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson denied rumors of a supposed “coup” being plotted by the minority bloc in the Senate to unseat Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
In a social media post, Lacson dismissed the reports, stressing that the majority bloc remains firmly supportive of Sotto’s leadership.
“Peke. Intended to deceive and confuse. Underestimating the intelligence of the new Senate majority bloc, nagba-baka sakaling may tumalon at magpirma. Malevolent, underhanded, foul and desperate. Kung may song na ‘Achy Breaky Hearts’, eto naman—‘Faky Breaky News’,” Lacson said.
According to some sources, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta was allegedly persuading members of the majority bloc they considered potential “swing votes”—particularly siblings Senator Mark Villar and Senator Camille Villar—to support their preferred candidate for Senate President, Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
It will be recalled that on Monday, September 8, Sotto formally reclaimed the Senate presidency after securing 15 votes to oust then-Senate President Chiz Escudero.