Replacing Senate Pres crucial to VP impeachment trial

Rumors swirl that opposition senators will again attempt to unseat Senate President Tito Sotto, installing instead a leader who would guarantee one crucial outcome: the acquittal of Vice President Sara Duterte in a possible impeachment trial—clearing her path for a 2028 presidential run.

The Senate intramurals may appear procedural, even routine. But the stakes are unmistakably high. Control of the chamber means control of the impeachment court. And in Philippine politics, timing and numbers often matter more than rhetoric. While Vice President Duterte’s hand remains officially invisible, the persistent noise within the Senate suggests powerful interests are maneuvering behind the scenes.

Adding fuel to the fire is Senator Rodante Marcoleta, whose recent pronouncements have ignited a major sovereignty controversy. His remark suggesting that the Philippines consider relinquishing its claim over the Kalayaan Island Group—territory firmly within the Philippine exclusive economic zone—triggered widespread condemnation. Critics branded the statement unpatriotic, even accusing him of echoing Beijing’s narrative. Though his words may fall short of treason, politically they struck a raw nerve in a nation weary of repeated encroachments on its sovereign rights at the West Philippine Sea.

Complicating matters further is the fact that Marcoleta’s son currently sits in Congress, raising concerns about political entrenchment. Both father and son have yet to accept invitations from the Philippine Coast Guard to visit Pag-asa Island, a symbolic gesture that might have clarified—or softened—their position. Their refusal only deepens suspicion.

Marcoleta has also taken an unpopular stance in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Discaya couple, arguing against demanding restitution despite former DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara’s dramatic return of more than a hundred million pesos in cash. For many Filipinos, the optics are damning. In an era when accountability is demanded loudly and often, calls for leniency feel misplaced.

If the goal is to divert attention from the flood control scandal, the strategy may be working. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation is nearing completion, with reports that three senators implicated in the mess will be named in the final document. Soon, the Independent Commission on Infrastructure may be abolished, and the third failed attempt to auction the Discayas’ high-value vehicles will fade from headlines.

What remains of the flood control controversy risks becoming a mere footnote in modern political history—overshadowed by leadership struggles and impeachment calculations. In the end, the greater danger is not who wins the Senate presidency, but whether accountability itself becomes collateral damage in the race toward 2028.