Senate Presidency Now Occupied by Alan Peter Cayetano after Tito Sotto Ousted
TITO SOTTO – The Senate has ousted the now-former Senate President and was replaced by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
Following the week-long rumors that Sotto might be ousted allegedly with regards to the possible impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, the rumors that were denied by some majority senators has come to reality.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo was one of those who junked the rumored ousted of then Senate Pres. Tito Sotto as he stressed that the senators should not prioritize themselves and their parties. According to him, the interest of the public should be on top of the line.
Tulfo also stressed that there are a lot of things that need to be done. He cited several national issues including the high food and fuel prices as he maintained that there will be no change of leadership.
However, based on a recent report on ABS-CBN News, today, Sen. Tito Sotto was ousted from the Senate presidency. Thirteen (13) senators declared the Senate presidency vacancy and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, the former leader of the minority, was elected as the new Senate President.
Based on the post, nine (9) senators backed the Senate presidency of now-former SP Tito Sotto. Two (2) members of the Senate abstained from making a vote. The ousted former Senate Chief believes that the move is in line with the possible impeachment of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the impeachment of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The House Justice panel found probable cause to impeach the Vice President with the following findings:
- Detainee Ramil Madriaga’s account of disbursing P125 million worth of confidential funds of the Vice President within 24 hours with cash deliveries in Laguna, Quezon City, and the Office of the Ombudsman
- Madriaga signing a bank waiver to prove that he has nothing to hide
- Madriaga alleging that the Vice President’s election campaign may have been financed by Pharmally which has been linked to anomalous government procurement
- the Commission on Audit (COA) revealing that the notice of disallowance on the P73 million confidential fund in 2022 was upheld by the COA commission proper
- The NBI representatives testifying on signatures in the acknowledgment receipts of recipients of confidential funds
- COA’s Gloria Camora, a lawyer of COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office, confirming that COA also issued three notices of disallowance on three releases of confidential funds for the OVP in 2023 worth P125 million each or P375 million in total
- the testimonies of various resource persons, regarding the “envelopes” and the questionable receipts, and other statements
- the Philippine Statistics Authority testifying that recipients of confidential funds, such as Mary Grace Piattos, Milky Secuya, and Kokoy Villamin do not have records in the country’s civil registry
- the Vice President not declaring any cash on hand or in bank under her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2019 to 2024
- the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) report flagging P6.7 billion worth of bank transactions of the Vice President and her husband, Manases Carpio, as covered and suspicious transactions from 2006 to 2025, with inflow standing at P4.425 billion and outflow at P1.55 billion
- the AMLC report revealed that there is a derogatory record for the Vice President and her husband
- the AMLC report showing that Vice President was the subject of suspicion in 27 confidential reports dated August 2, 2024 to January 29, 2026 due to suspected activities involving drug trafficking and related offenses, graft and corrupt practices, and malversation of public funds and property in connection with the House Quad Committee hearing on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, news reports alleging the involvement of the Vice President’s husband in the P6.4 billion shabu importation in 2017 and the news reports on the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds
- the AMLC report showing that her husband, Atty. Carpio, as subject of suspicion in 17 confidential reports from September 14, 2017 to April 25, 2025 due to suspected activities involving drug trafficking and related offenses, and malversation of public funds and property “in connection with the news reports on alleged his involvement in the PP6.4 billion shabu importation in 2017 and news articles in relation to his wife, VP Sara’s, alleged misuse of confidential/intelligence funds”
- the AMLC confirmation that at least 18 bank transactions linked to Vice President Sara Duterte and her family members, as cited in the affidavit of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, match records of covered and suspicious transaction reports
- the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) findings that the video of a press conference showing Vice President Duterte making a threat to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his family members in certain circumstances constitutes inciting to sedition and three counts of grave threat, among others.
Previously, then-Senate Pres. Tito Sotto revealed that he already met with some majority senators over the possible impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. According to him, the trial should start “forthwith”.
