Sotto shrugs off coup rumors; Cayetano says no leadership shakeup yet

'As of today, the 13 votes are not there yet or not present,' says Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III denied knowing any information about a coup plot against him as rumors swirled on social media over the weekend.

Should he be removed from his post, Sotto told reporters on Monday, February 2, that his strictness towards budget insertions could be a reason.

Sotto added that he serves at the pleasure of his colleagues, and that he was not fazed by the latest ouster rumors.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, said that they did not have the 13 votes needed for a leadership shakeup during Monday’s plenary session.

“Ako personally, I think everyone’s campaigning instead of governing. So it’s really, do you get 13 people of like minds? But as of today, wala pa ‘yung 13 na ‘yan or ‘yung 13 hindi present,” Cayetano said.

(I personally think everyone’s campaigning instead of governing. So it’s really, do you get 13 people of like minds? But as of today, those 13 are not there or not present.)

Cayetano also reiterated that the minority will always want to be a part of the majority.

“It was never a secret. They (majority bloc) used to be in the minority, and now they’re in the majority. When they were there, everyone was happy giving them a try. They had their victories, they had their faults, but if you were to ask me, it seems that there’s a national campaign going on for issues that are not gut issues,” the Senate minority leader said in a mix of English and Filipino.

– Rappler.com