Senate President Sotto Reveals Failed Marcos-Led Coup Attempt
Senate President Vicente Sotto III disclosed over the weekend that Senator Imee Marcos spearheaded a failed attempt to reorganize the Senate leadership, falling short of the required votes to succeed in what he described as a "coup attempt."
The revelation sheds light on the internal dynamics of the upper chamber, where political maneuvering continues to shape legislative proceedings under the current administration.
Minority Bloc's Failed Gambit
Sotto revealed that the nine-member minority bloc, which includes former Senate President Francis Escudero, former Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ronald dela Rosa, attempted to unseat him from the Senate presidency.
"They would have come to my office or gotten in touch with me and showed me," Sotto explained, referring to the lack of sufficient signatures. "Because that's the easiest thing to do. But no, they went to the office of Sen. Loren Legarda. So they didn't have the numbers."
The minority bloc faces a formidable 15-member majority, including independent Senator Miguel Zubiri, who currently serves as Senate majority leader.
Potential Defection from Minority
Sotto also hinted at possible defections from the minority bloc, with Senate observers identifying Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go as potentially considering a switch to the majority.
"Someone is talking to us," Sotto said, though he declined to confirm Go's identity. "I can't answer that with a yes because for all you know, they're just approaching us for talks."
Two Key Triggers Identified
The Senate President identified two possible catalysts for the attempted leadership change. The first was the "removal of Sen. Imee Marcos from the committee on foreign relations," which Sotto described as a potential trigger.
Zubiri had offered Marcos the chairmanship of the constitutional amendments panel, which Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan intends to vacate, but she declined the position.
The second trigger involved a draft report from the blue ribbon committee concerning flood control corruption scandals. Sotto confirmed possession of the committee report on anomalous flood control projects but emphasized it remains unofficial until approved by the Senate plenary.
Corruption Investigation Implications
The blue ribbon committee report, headed by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, reportedly recommends filing charges against several prominent senators, including former Senate President Francis Escudero and senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva.
"It's a draft and therefore not official," Sotto clarified. "If the other committee members have not even read or seen it, it cannot be made public. Maybe that's one of the reasons why those mentioned there suddenly became agitated."
The failed coup attempt highlights the ongoing political tensions within the Senate as various factions navigate corruption investigations and leadership dynamics in support of the current administration's legislative agenda.