As the House of Representatives votes on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, the Senate has changed leadership following the ouster of Senate President Tito Sotto III.
The Lower Chamber is set to vote on the impeachment on Monday, May 11, with the 1987 Philippine Constitution requiring at least 106 votes from the lawmakers to officially elevate the case to the Upper Chamber.
Once at least 106 votes are obtained, the Senate will convene as an impeachment court for trial.
Before the House voting, however, the Senate had already shifted gears by changing its leadership.
Sotto has been replaced by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who secured 13 votes to become the new Senate President.
Nine senators voted for Sotto, while two abstained.
The Senate leadership change took place minutes after Cayetano said there was “no truth” to claims of an initiative to allegedly stop the impeachment proceedings.
Political scientist Cleve Arguelles believes that the move was arranged “to guarantee paralysis, delay, or acquittal” of the impeachment.
There goes the Senate, its fall from its grace and hollowing out from within as it became a playground for dynasties and the Dutertes. Before the impeachment trial against VP Sara even begins, the chamber is already being rearranged to guarantee paralysis, delay, or acquittal.… https://t.co/7mTy0qCLBq
— Cleve V. Arguelles (@CleveArguelles) May 11, 2026
Sen. Bato dela Rosa, reappeared in the plenary to vote for the new Senate leader.
The Senate leadership change followed a warning from PDP-Laban Party to lawmakers that those who vote to impeach Sara would be barred from running under the PDP banner and could face challengers backed by the party in their respective districts.
The party, led by Davao City Vice Mayor Baste Duterte, on Sunday, May 10, declared its “firm and principled opposition” to what it described as the “politically driven impeachment” of the vice president.
PARTY DISCIPLINE OVER DUE PROCESS?
PDP Laban said it will blacklist lawmakers who vote to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, barring them from running under its banner and threatening to field rival candidates in their districts.
In a statement on Saturday, May 10, 2026, the… pic.twitter.com/490rpLsM9m
— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) May 10, 2026
PDP-Laban said it views the impeachment proceedings as a partisan effort to sideline Sara, who had earlier declared her plan to run for president in the 2028 elections.
The vice president is facing impeachment complaints over the alleged misuse of confidential funds, alleged threats against ranking officials, and other possible violations of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
— with reports from Philstar.com/John Marwin Elao
