Tito Sotto Stays Calm Amid Anjo Yllana’s Controversial Remarks
TITO SOTTO – The Senate President responded calmly after actor and former Eat Bulaga! co-host Anjo Yllana threatened to expose personal allegations against him.
When asked about the issue, Sotto said he would not stoop to Yllana’s level, urging others not to pay attention to what he described as an attempt to seek attention and cause damage. He added that the Senate should maintain professionalism, saying there was no need to entertain showbiz-related controversies or personal attacks.
“Hindi ko pinapatulan. Huwag niyong pansinin at nagpapapansin ‘yan. Pati ba naman showbiz at paninira, papatulan natin? Itaas natin ang level ng Senate press,” he said.
The conflict began when Anjo Yllana, during one of his livestreams, questioned Sotto’s claim that he had donated his Senate salary to scholars. Yllana challenged him to prove the donation and warned that if Sotto failed to do so, he would reveal the senator’s alleged mistress, whom he claimed Sotto had been involved with since 2013. This statement caused an uproar online, with many recalling the duo’s long history as co-hosts on the noontime show Eat Bulaga! before Yllana left in 2020.
Anjo explained that his statements stemmed from frustration over what he described as online “trolls” supposedly linked to Sotto’s camp, who had been attacking him after he criticized the government. He admitted that his outburst was a “bluff” meant to get the trolls to stop. Yllana said he was irritated and spoke impulsively, not expecting his comments to become a nationwide controversy.
In a later interview, Anjo revealed that he had already spoken with Sotto’s brothers, Vic and Maru Sotto, to settle the misunderstanding. Their conversation reportedly became emotional at first, but they eventually agreed to a “ceasefire.” Anjo said he understood the Sotto family’s reaction and assured them that he would no longer speak negatively about the senator. He also clarified that his previous remarks about Sotto’s alleged affair were not made to destroy anyone’s reputation but were said in the heat of the moment.