Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s interview with broadcast journalist Jessica Soho drew buzz after he admitted that it was Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano had arranged his appearance to participate in a vote that ousted Sen. Tito Sotto III.
Before the shooting incident at the Senate on May 13, Dela Rosa was able to sit down with Soho, where he revealed that it was Cayetano who called him to participate in a vote that would unseat Sotto. The interview was aired on Sunday, May 17, on “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.”
At the time, Dela Rosa had been hiding for six months after Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant against the senator.
Dela Rosa said that Cayetano, then Senate minority leader, personally called him to go to the Senate and vote for a planned leadership change, claiming the latter told him, “‘Kailangan pumunta ka rito para maagaw natin ang majority.'”
Dela Rosa also said that Cayetano arranged his transportation, adding that the latter told him to board a van to facilitate his arrival at the Senate.
“Basta sabi ni Senator Alan, ‘Sumakay ka diyan sa van,'” Dela Rosa said.
He also said that, aside from the leadership coup, one of the reasons he resurfaced was the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Aside dun sa planong change of leadership, alam ko may darating na impeachment trial. Eh pareho nating mga trabaho ‘yan,” Dela Rosa said.
The Senate coup occurred while the House of Representatives was voting on Duterte’s impeachment, with critics alleging that it was intended to “delay” the proceedings once they reached the Upper Chamber.
The Senate was then expected to convene as an impeachment court for the trial, with the Senate President serving as the presiding officer.
Snippets of Dela Rosa’s interview with Soho went viral as Filipinos react to his confirmation that the leadership had been planned.
Some recalled that minutes before the leadership change on May 11, Cayetano denied that a leadership shift will occur to stop the impeachment trial, saying “walang katotohanan na magpapalit ng leadership para itigil ‘yung impeachment. That’s just political talk by the others. So let’s see what happens.”
Some viewers expressed criticism of Cayetano, calling him a “liar” for previously denying that a coup was being planned.
“NAPAKASINUNGALING TALAGA NI ALAN PETER CAYETANO, ANG LALA, GALING NA SA BUNGANGA NI BATO, IKAW DAW ANG MASTERMIND,” an online user commented.
NAPAKASINUNGALING TALAGA NI ALAN PETER CAYETANO ANG LALA GALING NA SA BUNGANGA NI BATO IKAW DAW ANG MASTERMIND 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/EeenUOFlbU
— Torey Canino-Celis (@tj_canino) May 17, 2026
“Straight from the horse’s mouth: it was really APC who orchestrated it,” another commented, referring to Cayetano’s initials.
“It was all planned. Pagpasok, paglabas, pati ‘yung atake kuno sa senado. Alan planned it well. Kaya bayolet sya malala nung hindi pinaniwalaan ng masa ang narrative niya,” a different X user said.
Dela Rosa’s Soho interview admissions recapped
Another Pinoy viewer shared key points from the interview, describing the sit-down as “very illuminating.”
“Bato admits that he only came to the Senate for the vote to change leadership, Bato said he wouldn’t have come if he knew for sure there was a warrant, Alan Cayetano convinced him to come, Alan sent a vehicle to pick him up,” the X user said.
“He admits there was no wrestling, and his finger got hurt because he tripped. He doesn’t want to come to The Hague because he is not sure he will be in Duterte’s cell. He doesn’t want to talk about Trillanes,” the Pinoy continued.
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The ICC, on the same day of the interview, May 13, confirmed that it had issued an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa, the former Philippine National Police chief during the height of Duterte admin’s drug war..
READ: ICC confirms it has issued arrest warrant for Duterte ally
Dela Rosa’s whereabouts remain unknown following the shooting incident at the Senate.
Reports said he was able to leave the Senate premises in the early hours of May 14, a day after the incident, with the alleged assistance of fellow Duterte ally Sen. Robin Padilla.
Dela Rosa has been identified as an “indirect co-perpetrator” in the killings relating to the bloody anti-drug campaign of the Duterte administration.
The ICC said his alleged involvement may amount to the “crime against humanity of murder” allegedly committed between July 2016 and April 2018.
