Tito Sotto, Panfilo Lacson speak up after Loren Legarda switches sides: 'Sana nakapagpasabi muna'
Senators Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Vicente "Tito" Sotto III expressed dismay towards Senator Loren Legarda after she had switched her political affiliation.
Following Monday's reorganization of the Senate, Legarda assumed the role of Senate President Pro Tempore—a post previously held by Lacson—while Alan Peter Cayetano took over the Senate Presidency from Sotto.
In an interview with DZMM, Lacson admitted that he was shocked and hurt by Legarda’s shift in alliances, claiming that she had not given them a heads up about her decision.
"Ang sa amin lang, ang medyo masakit—sentimiento lang to—pagka-meron kang original na kasama na isa sa pinakamasugid, na walang iwanan tapos bigla kaming naiwanan. Yun lang medyo… [masakit]," he said. "Pero ang political reality, tanggap na rin natin ‘yon."
"Medyo mabigat sa dibdib namin na si Sen. Loren na talagang original na kasama namin simula’t sapol, nabulaga kami," he added.
Comparing Legarda's situation, Lacson noted that Senators JV Ejercito and Sherwin Gatchalian had the courtesy to inform then Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero before deciding to change alliances.
"This time around, 'di man lang nagpasabi si Senator Loren kay Senator Sotto, or maski sino sa amin na, ‘Pasensya na kayo, may sarili akong dahilan,’” Lacson said.
"Hindi ko inaalis na bumoto siya sa kabila. Ang sa akin lang, ang sentimiento lang, sana nakapagpasabi muna bago siya bumoto, hindi 'yung nabulaga kami na wala ka na pala sa amin," he added. "Maski one minute before session, sana binulungan niya si Tito man lang."
Meanwhile, Sotto similarly admitted that he was shocked by Legarda's decision to switch sides.
"Kumbaga nanonood ka ng drama at biglang naiba 'yung storya. Parang gusto mong sampalin 'yung sarili mo at sabihing, 'Huy, gumising ka!'" he said in an interview on Ted Failon and DJ Chacha's radio show.
"Sa akin lang, at least alam ko na ang kulay mo after all these years," he added.
Legarda challenged to reflect on her values
In addition to Lacson and Sotto, the University of the Philippines Broadcasting Association has voiced deep concern regarding Legarda, an alumna and former student leader, joining the Senate majority bloc.
"These abrupt political realignments expose how easily loyalties within the Philippine government bend in service of political survival, convenience, and elite bargaining," the association said in a statement.
With Cayetano—a staunch Duterte ally—now presiding over the Senate, the group fears his leadership could compromise the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, which are currently awaiting formal transmission to the upper house.
"More than a senator, Loren Legarda is a UP Broadcasting Association alumna who once stood within the ranks of student leadership. Her political choices now stand in contradiction with the principles of accountability, public service, and democratic responsibility that UP students are taught to uphold," the association said.
They underscored how Filipinos "deserve institutions that act independently and officials willing to place democratic duty above political accommodation."
The UP Broadcasting Association ended their statement by calling for the government to provide full and unrestricted media access to Senate proceedings and all deliberations related to the impeachment process.
PhilSTAR L!fe has reached out to Legarda for a comment, but has yet to respond as of writing.
