Tito Sotto out as Senate President, Alan Cayetano in

In a surprise move, senators on Monday voted for a leadership change ahead of the possible transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

With 13 votes, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected as the new Senate President, replacing Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

A total of nine senators voted to keep Sotto at the leadership helm, while two abstained

Those who voted for Cayetano were:

• Pia Cayetano
• Bato dela Rosa
• Chiz Escudero
• Jinggoy Estrada
• Bong Go
• Loren Legarda
• Rodante Marcoleta
• Imee Marcos
• Robin Padilla
• Joel Villanueva
• Mark Villar
• Camille Villar
• Vicente Sotto III

Meanwhile, Senators Ping Lacson, Kiko Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Lito Lapid, and Cayetano voted for Sotto.

Senators Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and JV Ejercito, meanwhile, abstained.

Alan Cayetano later took his oath of office as the new Senate President, accompanied by his wife, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, and his sister Senator Pia Cayetano.

In his speech after taking his oath of office, Alan Cayetano—a known ally of the Dutertes—denied that the change in leadership at the Senate has anything to do with the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.

“May mga lumabas sa news and hindi ko kayo sinisisi kung sinasabi niyo sa news na ang pagpapalit ng leadership ay tungkol sa impeachment, hindi po. The impeachment is enshrined in the Constitution,” he said.

(Reports are coming out, and I don’t blame you if you say in the news that the change of leadership is about impeachment, it is not. The impeachment is enshrined in the Constitution.)

“The impeachment will be much, much more than dismissing a complaint because of political affiliation. And it’s also much, much more than convicting someone without evidence. Parehong hindi pwede ‘yun (that’s both not allowed). Kailangan guided tayo by (we must be guided by) the truth. Guided by evidence,” he added.

Legarda was also elected the new Senate President Pro Tempore, while Villanueva was named as the acting Majority Leader.

For the part of Malacañang, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro simply acknowledged the developments.

“The Senate has decided its own leadership,” Castro said.

Cayetano denies coup

Minutes before the Senate session opened, Cayetano categorically denied rumors of a coup.

“I would like to confirm na walang katotohanan na magpapalit ng leadership para itigil ang impeachment,” he told reporters.

(I would like to confirm that there is no truth to claims that there will be a change in leadership to block the impeachment.)

However, Cayetano later reversed course during his manifestation on the Senate floor, saying the minority had secured enough votes to oust Sotto.

“I really admire your statement yesterday that you serve at the pleasure of the body. May I manifest that there are now at least 13 members of the Senate who wish to have a leadership change, and that Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa is in the building and will be here in a minute,” Cayetano said during the plenary session.

It was Villanueva who moved to declare all Senate leadership positions vacant. The motion was approved with a 13-10-1 vote.

Dela Rosa's appearance marked the first time since November 2025 that he was seen publicly. He had not attended Senate sessions amid claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant of arrest against him over his alleged links to the controversial war on drugs.

‘Not surprised’

Meanwhile, Sotto said he was not surprised by the Senate coup d’état.

He also said there was a “strong possibility” that the leadership change was linked to the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte.

“Not really (surprised). I was kinda expecting it because we've been hearing talks since days ago,” Sotto said.

“Basta sa amin, we will continue with the work. We will insist that the Articles of Impeachment, once submitted to us, be taken up,” he added.

Legarda was elected Senate President Pro Tempore.—Sundy Locus/AOL/MCG, GMA News