Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III confirmed on Tuesday that there have been circulating stories over the weekend suggesting attempts to orchestrate a Senate “coup." However, he stressed the matter remains largely speculative, as reported by RH Raymund Dadpaas.

“We hear it every now and then. It's a common story. One or two stories say that someone is moving, someone is talking—just like that,” Sotto said.

When asked for his own stance, Sotto emphasized that the decision rests with the collective judgment of his colleagues.

“I leave it to our peers. The Senate President should always leave it to the wisdom and the trust and confidence of his colleagues,” he said.

When asked directly whether he had heard reports of unusual activity among senators, Sotto responded, “Yes, I have.” However, when pressed about his confidence in the Senate’s leadership, he replied, “Yes, because that’s the story they shared with me.”

On the question of how many senators might be involved, Sotto admitted, “I don’t know.”

The remarks come amid persistent rumors in political circles about possible shifts in Senate leadership, though no formal motions or actions have been reported.

In September, Senator Tito Sotto was reinstated as Senate President, replacing Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero following an earlier coup attempt against him. 15 senators had moved to remove Escudero, subsequently installing Sotto as the chamber’s presiding officer.