Tito Sotto on Chiz Escudero ouster rumors: God permitting

There have been talks of a change in leadership in the Senate, with Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto possibly replacing Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. 

Sotto, who currently serves as Senate minority leader, has reportedly gathered enough support from fellow senators to replace Escudero as Senate President, based on a tweet of Nimfa Ravelo of Super Radyo dzBB. 

Developing: Maugong na may nakalap nang sapat na suport si Sen. Tito Sotto III para palitan si SP Chiz Escudero sa posisyon. Ayon sa sources, pinuntahan na si Escudero ni Sotto at ilan pang senador kaninang umaga. @dzbb

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— Nimfa R. Ravelo (@nimfaravelo) September 8, 2025

Sources said that Sotto and other senators already went to Escudero on Monday morning to discuss the possible coup. 

Asked for a comment on the matter, Sotto simply said, "God permitting." 

"???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? "

Tugon ni Senate Minority Leader @sotto_tito sa posibilidad na siya ang pumalit kay Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero bilang Senate President. | via @nimfaravelo pic.twitter.com/HfRT3KPV1w

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 8, 2025

To recall, Sotto had served as Senate President from 2018 to 2022. 

The plenary session at the Senate is set to begin at 3 p.m.

Duterte bloc

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos said that the so-called Duterte bloc, composed of herself and Senators Ronald “Bato" dela Rosa, Bong Go, Rodante Marcoleta, and Robin Padilla, have no idea of the supposed leadership change. 

“Ang balita ko nakaka-15 na raw na pirma, pero kami, hindi kinakausap. Wala akong kaalam-alam. Nababalitaan ko lang kanina na nagpirmahan daw. Pero wala namang binigay sa akin, wala namang kumausap, wala namang nag-kumbinse,” Marcos said in an ambush interview. 

(I heard that there were already 15 senators who signed, but they didn’t talk to us. I have no idea. I just heard a while ago that they signed. But nothing was given to me, no one talked to me, no one convinced me.) 

“Parang nalito nga kami nila Bato, nalito kami nila Bong Go, ano ba ang nangyayari? Pati si Senator Robin, napatakbo ata kay SP Chiz. Nagkakalituhan bakit ang Duterte bloc, na-out kami,” she added. 

(Sens. Bato, Bong Go, and I were confused about what was happening. Even Senator Robin Padilla ran to SP Chiz. We were confused why the Duterte bloc was not included.) 

According to Marcos, Sotto may possibly replace Escudero. — RSJ/AOL, GMA Integrated News