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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate Majority bloc thwarts coup attempt vs Sotto

Senate Majority bloc thwarts coup attempt vs Sotto

Published Feb 4, 2026 05:57 pm
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said that the majority bloc was able to thwart a coup attempt against his leadership.
Senate President Vicente
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III (Senate PRIB photo)
He said this in an interview amid rumors that Senator Loren Legarda was poised to replace him as the Senate leader.
"It's not me, it's the majority," he said when asked if he was responsible for the foiled coup attempt.
Plenary session was suspended around 3:51 p.m. and resumed at 5:24 p.m. Legarda was seen in the rostrum and was called "Madame President" by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri before adjourning.
"Wala nakatuwaan lang namin (That’s nothing, we were just having fun)," Sotto said.
Legarda said that she just acted as the presiding officer.
But for Zubiri, this was because "she may be the future president of the Senate".
He added that the majority bloc is more solid than ever.
Asked if there will be a term or power sharing, Zubiri said that vaguely "in the near future.”
Sotto recently shrugged off coup rumors, stating that he has not heard any complaints or expressions of dissatisfaction regarding his leadership amid coup rumors in the Upper Chamber.
Yet he confirmed a day before that he was told that the Senate presidency had been offered to Legarda by undisclosed members of the minority bloc.
Sotto said Legarda told him she was not interested in the offer.

Related Tags

Senate President Vicente \"Tito\" Sotto III Loren Legarda Migz Zubiri Senate leadership coup
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