Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III brushed off questions about cracks in his leadership, saying he remains confident despite heated exchanges with members of the minority.
Speaking on radio dwIZ, Sotto recalled the tense plenary session where Senator Rodante Marcoleta challenged the leadership’s handling of the detention order against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez. Lawmakers eventually agreed to send Hernandez to the Pasay City Jail for contempt, but only after a sharp back-and-forth.
Marcoleta also criticized Sotto’s refusal to endorse his request for Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to place contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya under the witness protection program.
“I have gone through a lot of challenges like these,” Sotto said. “I just remind myself to do what is right and not do anything illegal, no matter who gets dragged by it.”
The veteran lawmaker, who previously served as Senate President from 2018 to 2022, said it was “God’s will” that he returned to the post after his allies ousted Francis Escudero last week. Still, he admitted he took Senator Panfilo Lacson’s advice seriously not to underestimate the nine-member minority bloc.
Asked about the possibility of being unseated, Sotto said leadership changes are part of politics and that his fate is not in his hands. “It’s up to them. Anything can happen,” he remarked, pointing to the recent controversies linking Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva to alleged kickbacks in Bulacan flood control projects.
“Let them be, but as for us, we will walk the right path and we will fix up the place,” he added.
