Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III could not hold back his frustration at Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa after both referenced “noontime show” and “nephew” in connection with his refusal to sign a recommendation placing Sarah and Curlee Discaya under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).
“Binabanggit niyo pa yung noontime show, oh, hindi ko na nga pinatulan wag ganun, yung totoo mas marami pang natulungan ang noontime show eh, 46 years kaysa sa atin dito,” Sotto snapped at dela Rosa following his privilege speech.
The “noontime show” he was referring to was Eat… Bulaga!, the country’s longest-running noontime program, where Sotto has long been a host and producer.
Sotto also lashed out at Marcoleta over his earlier press conference.
“Kung kaya akong utusan ni Martin (Romualdez), dapat nilaban ko sa’yo, hindi nga ako pumayag eh, hindi yung (pati) pamangkin ko, idadamay,” Sotto said.
In that press conference, Marcoleta accused Sotto of politicizing the Discayas, claiming the Senate leader was biased because his nephew, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, ran against Sarah Discaya in the 2025 elections. Vico Sotto won by a landslide in that race.