Alleged efforts to unseat Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto may be driven by shifting foreign policy agendas, pending impeachment proceedings, and early preparations for the 2028 elections, according to a former Supreme Court justice and several lawmakers.

Adolfo Azcuna, a retired associate justice and framer of the 1987 Constitution, said in a phone interview that the persistent attempts to change the Senate’s leadership likely stem from deeper motives than local legislative disputes. He pointed to the ongoing diplomatic rift between the Philippines and China and the accountability of high-ranking officials as key factors.

“Since the Senate is a policy-making body, it is possible that they want to have their own agenda as to the course of the nation,” Azcuna said. He cited the chamber’s critical role in shaping foreign policy through the approval of international treaties.

The tensions reportedly intensified after Senator Imee Marcos was removed as head of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and replaced by Senator Erwin Tulfo. Sotto attributed the ouster plot to this shakeup, which followed a heated exchange between senators and the Chinese embassy.

Marcos was among nine senators who declined to sign a resolution condemning China’s remarks against Philippine officials. She countered Sotto’s claims, stating her removal had nothing to do with the alleged leadership coup.

The minority bloc, often associated with the “Duterte bloc,” has also been linked to the leadership friction. These senators previously voted against an impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Duterte. While the Supreme Court earlier voided an impeachment case against the vice president, new complaints have been filed in the House of Representatives.

Senator Robin Padilla, an ally of the Dutertes, recently admitted he would support a change in leadership if the vice president’s impeachment reaches the Senate for trial. Duterte, who faces allegations of graft involving confidential funds, continues to lead surveys as a top contender for the 2028 presidential race.

Observers also suggested that some senators may be motivated by an impending committee report that could lead to the imprisonment of three sitting members implicated in a flood control corruption scheme.