Manila, Feb. 5 -- Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Thursday that no group has met the constitutional requirement to replace the Senate leadership, downplaying speculations of an impending shake-up in the upper chamber.

"You will always need the 13 signatures. Kahit na 14 o 15 lang ang senador na present, you still have to have 13. That's the rule, that's the law in the Constitution kung paano mag-e-elect ng Senate President (Even if only 14 or 15 senators are present, you still need 13. That's the rule, that's the law in the Constitution on how to elect a Senate President)," Sotto said in a radio interview.

He explained that the delayed resumption of session followed informal discussions among senators after the chamber approved ...