Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Monday dismissed reports of an ongoing leadership realignment aimed at replacing newly installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano with Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
The statement comes just one week after Cayetano assumed the top post following a sudden shift in the chamber’s leadership. Speculation had circulated that a faction within the Senate had already secured the necessary 13 votes to unseat him and reinstate Escudero.
Lacson took to social media to firmly deny the rumors of a brewing coup.
“Simply untrue,” Lacson said in a post on his social media accounts.
Escudero previously served as Senate President from May 2024 until September 2025, when he was ousted by former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III amid allegations regarding a flood control project corruption scandal. Sotto himself was later unseated by Cayetano on May 11 in a surprise leadership coup backed by 13 lawmakers.
The rumored political realignments surfaced amid reported dissatisfaction within the majority bloc over the handling of internal disputes and recent security breaches within the legislative complex.
Tensions in the 24-member chamber have escalated following a recent shooting incident inside the Senate building, which occurred shortly after a failed attempt to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
The political friction coincides with a high-stakes legislative environment, coming immediately after the House of Representatives voted 257-25, with nine abstentions, to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte for a second consecutive year.