Sotto, Lacson on report of Senate leadership shake-up: 'Faky breaky news'
Senate President Tito Sotto and Sen. Ping Lacson have commented on reports of another Senate leadership shake-up.
On Sept. 14, Lacson, the Senate President Pro Tempore, shared a screenshot of a report from a Mindanao-based outlet, in which a source claimed that Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano "secured" the numbers to replace Sotto as Senate President.
"Peke. Intended to deceive and confuse," the senator said on X. "Underestimating the intelligence of the new Senate majority bloc, nagba-baka sakaling may tumalon at magpirma."
"Malevolent, underhanded, foul, and desperate," he continued.
Lacson went on to make a reference to Billy Ray Cyrus's song Achy Breaky Hearts. "Eto naman, 'Faky Breaky News.'"
For his part, Sotto, while not referring to a specific report, said that a shake-up would be "very devious."
"Wala pang hearing ang Blue Ribbon ni Ping Lacson[,] gusto ng ilang magpalitan agad. What are they so afraid of?" the SP wrote on X, without referring to anyone in particular. Lacson replaced Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as the head of the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Sotto also warned about fake news peddlers on Facebook.
"Mag ingat tayo sa mga pekeng 'news' page na nagkakalat ng mga balitang nakakadagdag pa sa kaguluhan na pinagdadaanan ng ating bansa ngayon," he said.
On Sept. 11, Lacson warned Sotto about the possibility of another Senate coup. "Sabi ko, 15 tayo (majority), siyam sila (minority). 'Wag mong menosin 'yung nine," he said during a Thursday kapihan.
"Manipis 'yung 15 against nine. Baka bukas-makalawa, ikaw naman 'yung kinu-coup," he said.
In a press release on Sept. 14, Lacson said there is a proper and professional way to "effect a leadership change."
"The proper and professional way is to call or approach the Senate president, inform and show him the resolution signed by at least 13 senators, then the sitting Senate President resigns at the opening of the session, not through a media outlet, whether nationally recognized or obscure," he said.
On Sept. 8, Sotto replaced Sen. Chiz Escudero as the Senate President after earning 15 votes from fellow senators. Escudero's leadership was mired by several issues, including flood control project corruption allegations and his supposed non-action on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Currently, the Senate majority bloc includes senators Sotto, Lacson, Miguel Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros, JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, Bam Aquino, Pia Cayetano, Win Gatchalian, Lito Lapid, Kiko Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Camille Villar, and Mark Villar.
On the other hand, the minority is made up of Alan Peter Cayetano, Marcoleta, Joel Villanueva, Escudero, Imee Marcos, Jinggoy Estrada, Robin Padilla, Bato Dela Rosa, and Bong Go.
