Cayetano is new Senate leader as coup succeeds

LEADERSHIP CHANGE: Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano takes his oath as the new Senate president before Sen. Camille Villar. Cayetano, the former Senate minority leader, ousted Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III after getting the support of 12 other senators. —Photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — After several reported plots for his ouster, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was at last unseated on Monday by 13 of the chamber’s 24 senators and replaced by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

The coup against Sotto, led by allies of the Duterte family, unfolded as the House of Representatives was set to vote on the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The articles were due afterward for transmittal to the Senate.

The surprise move happened shortly after the opening of Monday’s session, when Cayetano, the upper chamber’s minority leader, took the floor and informed his colleagues they had the numbers to change the Senate leadership.

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