Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has dismissed rumors of a leadership shake-up in the chamber, saying there are not enough votes to install Senator Loren Legarda as Senate president. He emphasized that coup plotters never had the required 13 votes to unseat him.

MANILA, Philippines, Feb. 6, 2026 — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday clarified that talk of replacing him with Senator Loren Legarda was unfounded, stressing that the numbers simply do not add up. 

“That’s inaccurate. As a matter of fact, false. Because as early as the roll call, alam na namin na walang motion or walang numero to unseat the leadership,” Sotto told reporters. He explained that any change in Senate leadership requires at least 13 votes in writing, a threshold that was never met.

Speculation about a possible coup emerged earlier this week, with reports suggesting that Legarda was being considered to take over the Senate presidency before the end of the 20th Congress. 

Some senators floated the idea of term-sharing between Sotto and Legarda, which would make her the first female Senate president, even if only for a few months. Sotto himself acknowledged that such discussions had taken place informally, describing them as “just a joke” among colleagues.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson also weighed in, saying that attempts to entice Legarda with the presidency were “malicious” and “sadistic.” He accused coup plotters of spreading false narratives that Legarda had volunteered to recruit support for a new Senate majority. 

Sotto confirmed receiving similar information, but reiterated that the supposed plan never had enough backing to materialize.

The controversy comes amid broader political debates, including discussions on charter change and budget allocations, which have divided senators. Sotto admitted that some colleagues may have been dissatisfied with his strict stance on budget insertions, but maintained that the majority bloc remains solidly behind him. 

“To unseat the leader, you must have 13 votes. The 13 votes, you must have it in writing,” he said, underscoring the constitutional requirement.

For now, the Senate leadership remains intact, with Sotto continuing to preside over the chamber. While the idea of making Legarda Senate president has not been completely ruled out, it appears unlikely without the necessary support.