In the brutal, highly emotional world of showbiz feuds, accusations of disloyalty and “ingratitude” are perhaps the most damaging weapons. For weeks, former Eat Bulaga co-host Anjo Yllana has faced a barrage of public scrutiny, with many implying that he had forgotten the debt of honor he supposedly owed to the Sotto brothers—particularly to Vic Sotto, the figurehead of the iconic television program.

However, in a defiant and deeply personal counter-attack delivered through a recent live video, Yllana has not only rejected the “ungrateful” label but has fundamentally redefined the narrative of his professional and personal relationship with the Sotto family. He claims that the relationship was not merely transactional, but one of mutual assistance and reciprocal favors, culminating in a political maneuver that he executed to personally help one of Vic Sotto’s own brothers—a political lifeline that he asserts continues to benefit the Sotto name today.

The core of Yllana’s defense is rooted in a single, massive revelation: a political favor he claims to have delivered to Vic Sotto that is now being highlighted as the true “debt of gratitude” owed in return. Yllana, speaking with a blend of sadness and firm conviction, acknowledged his deep commitment to Eat Bulaga and the people he worked with, pointing out that he labored intensively for his salary, spending seven days a week for twelve years either on set or golfing with Vic and Tito Sotto. Yet, he insisted that his loyalty extended beyond professional obligation, moving into the realm of personal sacrifice and political capital.

“They say I have no debt of gratitude to Eat Bulaga and the Sottos,” Yllana stated, addressing his critics head-on. “But wait a minute, that’s not true. When they needed my help, I was there. I actually have many stories about how they needed my help—I just don’t tell them.”

Yllana then proceeded to drop the bombshell, detailing a specific, private request made by Vic Sotto concerning his older brother, Val Sotto. According to Anjo, Bossing Vic approached him personally, expressing profound concern about Val’s career and personal life. At the time, Val was allegedly experiencing a period of unemployment and personal struggle. Yllana recalls Vic telling him, “Could you please help my brother, Val Sotto?” Yllana claims Val was working a job that Vic was unhappy with and wanted his sibling to have a more stable, permanent career path, specifically in public service. The emotional subtext was clear: Vic Sotto was seeking a secure and respectable future for his kin, and he turned to Yllana for the solution.

The political dynamics of the situation elevate the favor from a simple friendly deed to a significant political maneuver. In 2004, Yllana was not merely a celebrity; he was an active politician running for Vice Mayor. He claims he was in a position to negotiate for a slot on the ballot. Vic Sotto’s request was specific: he wanted Yllana to secure a slot for Val to run as a Councilor.

Yllana recounts the intense pushback he faced from his own political party, which was vehemently opposed to the idea. The party line was blunt: Val Sotto had “no presence in the surveys” and was considered an unviable candidate. For any political party, risking a ballot spot on an unknown or unpopular name is a severe liability. Yet, Yllana, fueled by his loyalty to Vic Sotto and their personal friendship, refused to back down. He claims he fought his own party, convincing them to take a leap of faith.

“I was running for Vice Mayor, so I was entitled to one candidate for each district. They didn’t want Val Sotto because he wasn’t in the survey,” Yllana explained, emphasizing the risk he took. His commitment was absolute. He claims he told his party, “Of course, he’s not in the survey! No one knows he’s running yet. Give me three months, and I will help the person come out in the survey.”

This anecdote reveals Yllana’s self-professed influence and his willingness to expend his own political capital to fulfill Vic Sotto’s request. Against the odds and internal political resistance, Yllana succeeded in securing Val Sotto’s inclusion on the ticket. Yllana claims he then informed Vic, saying, “Bossing, it’s done. Now it’s up to Val to work hard.” He also suggested that Vic would need to leverage his own celebrity to help his brother’s campaign, especially since Val was the eldest Sotto brother and Vic felt such strong responsibility for him.

The ultimate political triumph, Yllana emphasizes, was that he was elected Vice Mayor, and Val Sotto won the Council seat.

Crucially, Yllana did not stop there; he highlighted the long-term legacy of that single political assist. Val Sotto served his term, establishing a foundation that continues to this day. Yllana points out that Val later passed the political torch to his son, Wahoo Sotto, who also became a Councilor. The chain of public service, he notes, continues, with Wahoo’s wife now occupying a similar position. Yllana implies that the enduring political stability and continued employment enjoyed by the Sotto family in that office trace their origins back to that pivotal favor he granted Vic Sotto in 2004.

This entire revelation serves as Yllana’s powerful counter-argument to the ingratitude claims. He is essentially stating that not only did he not benefit unfairly from the Sottos—he worked and was paid for his professional time—but he also extended significant personal and political assistance when they were in a position of need. The relationship was not a master-apprentice dynamic defined by a one-sided debt; it was, as he repeatedly asserts, a “give and take” arrangement where he provided a favor that had lasting, tangible benefits for the other side.

The emotional weight of Yllana’s testimony is palpable. While he defends his actions and integrity, he also expresses a deep-seated melancholy over the current state of their relationship. He notes that although he is sad they are no longer friends and the current events are painful, he cherishes the “fun memories” from their time together on Eat Bulaga and their frequent golf outings. The memories, he says, remain, but the trust and friendship have been undeniably damaged by the very public fallout.

Anjo Yllana’s confession is a pivotal moment in the ongoing showbiz turmoil. By placing a specific, verifiable political favor—one with clear and enduring consequences—onto the public record, he has complicated the narrative beyond simple claims of disrespect. He has presented a case that suggests the “debt” in their relationship runs in two directions, forcing the public, and perhaps the Sottos themselves, to reconsider who truly owes whom, and to acknowledge the full, multifaceted history that has been so painfully dragged into the spotlight. The core message is clear: the history of the Sottos and Yllana is far more nuanced, more political, and far less one-sided than the public narrative has allowed. This move serves as a final, definitive rebuttal to the accusation of ingratitude, replacing it with a demand for recognition of his own loyalty and the significant role he played in the Sotto family’s enduring public career. The ball, Yllana implies, is now in the Sottos’ court to acknowledge the true nature of their shared past.