Amid the drama and controversies in the Senate, multiple social media posts claim that Sen. Lito Lapid has joined the 13-member majority bloc led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. This is not true.
VERA Files traced the earliest copy of the claim to a TikTok video uploaded on May 25. It displayed a graphic showing the new Senate majority following the May 11 leadership shakeup, with Lapid’s photo obviously superimposed on it. Separate images of the senator and former Senate president Vicente Sotto III were also featured, accompanied by a text:
“Senator Lito Lapid Lumipat sa Hanay Nila Alan Cayetano Majority Bloc
(Senator Lito Lapid has joined the ranks of the majority bloc of Alan Cayetano).”
From May 26 to 30, several Facebook users reposted similar versions of the graphic. Some of them shared it to groups supportive of the Dutertes.
As of writing, Lapid remains part of the 11-member minority bloc. He never issued any official statement in interviews or on social media indicating plans to switch sides in the Senate.
The inaccurate posts about his allegiance came a day after all minority senators — except Lapid — seconded the motion of Sen. Migz Zubiri on May 25 to strike off the record Sen. Imee’s controversial video presentation about a supposed plot to push Charter change allegedly involving the minority bloc to cancel the 2028 elections.
The next day, the action star-turned-politician made a manifestation during the plenary session, debunking speculations on social media that he had already moved to the majority. He clarified in Filipino, “I will remain in the minority bloc, and I’m not leaving.”
The TikTok video carrying the spurious graphic garnered 2,537 engagements and 92,600 views. Other copies by other FB users collectively received 3,778 reactions; 869 comments and 134 shares.
