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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sotto out, Cayetano in: Alan Cayetano is new Senate leader

Sotto out, Cayetano in: Alan Cayetano is new Senate leader

Published May 11, 2026 04:07 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate leadership change takes effect as the House of Representatives moves to vote to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte.
  • Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who has been absent in the Senate since November 2025, appeared suddenly during the 3 p.m. plenary session in time for the voting.

Voting 13-9-2, the Senate on Monday, May 11 voted to oust Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and designated Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate leader.

The leadership change took effect as the House of Representatives were moving to vote on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who has been absent in the Senate since November 2025, appeared suddenly during the 3 p.m. plenary session in time for the voting.

Senators who voted for the leadership change were Alan Cayetano, Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Joel Villanueva, Imee Marcos, Rodante Marcoleta, Robin Padilla, Christopher “Bong” Go, Dela Rosa, Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Mark Villar and Camille Villar, and Jinggoy Estrada

Senators who voted against the Senate leadership change were Sotto, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Manuel “Lito” Lapid. 

Two senators who abstained in the voting were Senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.

It was Imee Marcos who nominated Alan Cayetano as Senate president.

Earlier, Padilla, Marcos, and Go denied there is any attempt to remove Sotto as the Senate leader saying they have no numbers to back such move.

Also Lacson on Monday, confirmed there was indeed an active attempt to unseat Sotto in preparation for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Related Tags

Senate leadership Senate Alan Peter Cayetano Tito Sotto III minority bloc majority bloc
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