Sotto downplays Senate rift

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday dismissed speculation of an impending leadership shakeup in the Senate, saying recent tensions stemmed from disputes over committee assignments and procedural issues—not dissatisfaction with the Senate presidency.

Speaking during a virtual briefing, Sotto said concerns raised by some senators revolved largely around committee control, a situation that escalated following the removal of Sen. Imee Marcos as chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

“Alam naman namin ang problema na gusto nila ay hindi lang naman ang Senate President eh. Gusto nila ‘yung mga committees eh. ‘Yun ang main,” Sotto said.

He added that heated exchanges on China and the West Philippine Sea, along with public statements by Philippine officials, further strained relations within the chamber.

Sotto also cited the circulation of what he described as an unofficial and inaccurate draft committee report, which reached the media before it was formally discussed by committee members.

“’Yung hindi naman official na draft report na kumalat… hindi pa totoo ‘yun, hindi pa accurate ‘yun,” he said.

Under Senate rules, Sotto explained, committee chairs must first present draft reports to members for comment and revision before they can be finalized and signed. Only reports approved by a majority of committee members may be elevated to the plenary.

“Kapag controversial, kelangan dapat sundin mo ‘yung rules,” he said, noting that failure to follow this process led some senators to mistakenly believe the leaked document was already final.

The situation, Sotto said, was aggravated by concerns among senators mentioned in the draft, who reacted strongly after seeing what they thought was an official report.

He rejected allegations of bias or unequal treatment, stressing that Senate rules apply equally to both majority and minority blocs, particularly on budget-related matters.

“Pantay-pantay definitely. Pati ‘yung paghihigpit ko sa insertion, sa pag-abuso ng budget pantay-pantay,” he said.

Sotto also brushed off claims that a group had mustered enough support to unseat the current leadership, saying no bloc produced the constitutionally required 13 votes.

“I doubt it. Because if they had… they should’ve showed me,” he said.

He added that the fact some senators went instead to the office of Sen. Loren Legarda indicated that no group had consolidated sufficient numbers to mount a leadership challenge.

According to Sotto, the Senate majority remains intact, and he has received no formal complaints from its members.