Vice President Sara Duterte has maintained a neutral stance on the recent upheaval in the Senate, describing the transition from Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to Senator Allan Peter Cayetano as an internal matter decided by the legislative body.
In an interview in The Hague on May 11, Duterte emphasized her respect for the autonomy of the senators.
”Well, wala naman kasi… kung ano yung liderato sa loob na ng Senado, decision yun ng mga senators, mga miyembro ng ating Philippine Senate,” Duterte said. “So kung ano yung kalabasan ng kanilang botohan, ay desisyon yun ng karamihan ng kanilang mga miyembro.”
The leadership shakeup occurred on a high-stakes Monday, as Cayetano secured the 13 votes necessary to replace Sotto. The move coincided with the House of Representatives’ decision to impeach Vice President Duterte for the second time, officially transmitting the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.
The transition comes after a period of friction within the chamber. Sotto’s departure followed his ousting of former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who has been linked to controversies regarding the 2025 national budget and flood control projects.
With Cayetano now at the helm, the Senate prepares to transition into an impeachment court to hear the charges against the Vice President.