The world of Philippine entertainment and high-stakes politics has been violently shaken by an explosive public dispute, pitting two long-time colleagues and friends—former Senator and television icon Tito Sotto, known universally as Tito Sen, against comedian and co-host Anjo Yllana—in a deeply personal and professionally devastating feud. What started as a political disagreement has descended into a chaotic public spectacle, with Anjo Yllana weaponizing his platform to unleash a torrent of allegations, including a shocking threat to expose Tito Sotto’s alleged marital infidelity, alongside claims of institutional corruption within the nation’s most beloved noontime show, Eat Bulaga.

The roots of this bitter feud are personal and political. Anjo Yllana claims he was driven to this desperate act of public disclosure by the relentless “slander” he experienced at the hands of Tito Sotto’s supporters, a consequence of their differing political affiliations. Yllana’s series of dramatic rants on TikTok Live have instantly captivated the nation, forcing both the entertainment and political establishments to confront the long-buried secrets and unresolved grievances now being aired for millions to witness.

The Threat of a ‘Box-Reveal’: Allegations of a Decade-Old Affair
The most sensational and damaging of Anjo Yllana’s accusations targeted Tito Sotto’s personal life and marital fidelity. Yllana issued a direct, unequivocal threat to expose the politician’s alleged mistress, or “kabit,” dating back to 2013, claiming Sotto himself involved Yllana in the alleged affair.

Speaking with visible anger during a live stream on November 3, Yllana dared Sotto to provoke him further, stating: “Gusto mo sabihin ko na kung sino yung kabit mo mula 2013 na pinalakad mo sa akin? Sabihin mo lang, Tito Sen, at iba-box reveal ko na.” (Do you want me to say who your mistress from 2013 is, whom you asked me to facilitate? Just say it, Tito Sen, and I’ll box-reveal it.) This threat is deeply damaging on two critical levels. Firstly, it directly attacks Sotto’s reputation and his marriage to Helen Gamboa. Secondly, by claiming Sotto “asked him to facilitate” the affair, Yllana positions himself as an insider privy to the most intimate and ethically compromised aspects of Sotto’s private life, turning a public political feud into a deeply personal act of betrayal. Yllana further claimed that Sotto was using “paid vloggers” to sustain the public attacks against him, painting the entire scenario as a well-funded character assassination campaign by his former friend.

The Challenge to Integrity: Unfulfilled Political Promises
Beyond the realm of personal scandal, Anjo Yllana aggressively challenged Tito Sotto’s political integrity, demanding proof of a promise Sotto made during his 2022 senatorial campaign. Sotto had publicly vowed to forego his Senate salary and donate it to poor, deserving students.

Yllana’s challenge was a demand for documented evidence, or “resibo” (receipts), to verify the execution of this major campaign promise. He directly quoted Sotto, urging him to be transparent: “Kayo po ang nangako na yung sweldo niyo ibibigay niyo sa mga mahihirap na mag-aaral na mga kababayan. kaya siguro maglabas na lang kayo ng resibo.” (You promised that you would give your salary to poor students, our countrymen. So perhaps you should just show receipts.) This demand casts immediate doubt on Sotto’s commitment to public service and whether the promise was merely political rhetoric. By linking the personal threat to the political challenge, Yllana effectively framed Sotto as a figure whose public integrity and private morality are both deeply compromised.

Unmasking the ‘Syndicate’ at Eat Bulaga
Anjo Yllana’s revelations extended far beyond Tito Sotto’s personal life, plunging into the dark, alleged internal workings of the long-running noontime show, Eat Bulaga. Yllana claimed there is a powerful and destructive “syndicate” operating behind the scenes, threatening to expose “behind-the-scenes” events that the public has never known.

His bold declaration that he is “hindi ako takot sa TVJ” (I’m not afraid of TVJ) set a confrontational tone for the rest of his revelations. Yllana recounted a particularly painful anecdote concerning the late director Dirk Bert de Leon, who helmed Eat Bulaga from 1979. Yllana claimed that before de Leon’s death, the director tearfully confided in him, alleging he had been “stabbed in the back” and slandered by powerful figures in the show to ensure his removal as director. De Leon’s wife reportedly shared a similar emotional experience with Yllana, feeling deeply disrespected by the circumstances of her husband’s forced departure.

Yllana used this historical grievance to conclude that the alleged mistreatment was not accidental but deliberate: “Oo, plinano. Kaya nga may sindikato diyan. Sait bulbulaga. Masasama ibang tao diyan.” (Yes, it was planned. That’s why there’s a syndicate there. In Eat Bulaga. There are bad people there.) This claim of an internal “syndicate” suggests a hidden, ruthless professional environment within a program widely celebrated for its familial and cheerful image, introducing an unprecedented narrative of professional sabotage and betrayal.

The Grievance of Unpaid Salaries
Further compounding his claims of professional injustice, Anjo Yllana revealed his own financial grievances with Tape Incorporated, the producer of Eat Bulaga. Yllana was a fixture on the show for over 22 years, from 1998 to 2020. While he initially cited scheduling issues and a need to prioritize family as the reasons for his 2020 departure, expressing only “wala akong tampo” (I hold no ill will), the truth, he now reveals, was more complicated.

Yllana alleged that during his long tenure, he was not paid his full compensation, claiming a deficiency of “five to seven months” of salary. His decision to pursue this publicly was apparently triggered in 2023 when he learned that Vic Sotto had successfully received his own outstanding salaries from the same producer. Yllana recalled a previous instance where Tito Sotto suggested VAT declarations meant salaries were paid, a claim Yllana explicitly refutes regarding his own compensation.

His appeal for the money he believes he earned was poignant and direct: “Lima o pitong buwan konting compensation. 20 years naman ako sa inyo. Kalahati halos ng buhay ko inalay ko naman sa inyo… Baka pwede namang makita o masilip.” (Five or seven months of small compensation. I was with you for 20 years. I dedicated almost half my life to you… Maybe it can be seen or checked.) This public demand for back pay adds a financial element to the professional betrayal, suggesting that his loyalty and decades of service were rewarded with financial negligence.

Tito Sotto’s Dismissive Response and Public Skepticism
Tito Sotto’s official response to this onslaught of damaging accusations was one of cool, outright dismissal. The former senator chose to completely bypass the substance of Yllana’s claims, instead framing the entire episode as a pathetic plea for attention.

Sotto’s calm dismissal was clear: “Hindi ko napapatulan. Huwag niyong pansinin at nagpapapansin yan. Patiba naman showbiz at paninira papatulan natin. Itaas natin ang level ng Senate Press.” (I will not engage. Don’t mind him, he’s just seeking attention. We won’t engage in showbiz tactics and slander. Let’s elevate the level of the Senate Press.) By calling Yllana an attention-seeker and the claims “showbiz tactics and slander,” Sotto attempted to diminish the gravity of the accusations and position himself above the fray.

The public reaction, however, remains complex and skeptical. Netizens expressed surprise at the “out of the blue” nature of Yllana’s outburst, questioning his timing and motives. Many speculated about political opportunism, noting that Yllana’s current political alignment clashes with Sotto’s. Comments like, “Dapat noon ka pa nagpakabayani hindi ngayon na ang dating sumasakay ka na sa issue,” (You should have been a hero then, not now, where it seems you’re just riding on the issue) criticized Yllana for waiting until the political climate was advantageous to expose such old secrets. Others criticized the move to expose highly personal marital secrets, urging Yllana to show respect for Sotto’s wife, Helen Gamboa, by addressing the matter privately. The overall sentiment reveals a public that is deeply intrigued by the revelations but highly cynical about the motivations of the former colleague who, after decades of silence, chose to wage a public war of unprecedented intensity.