The split of Eat Bulaga! was more than the end of a television show; it was the catastrophic divorce of a family. For months, the battle between the iconic trio of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon (TVJ) and their former producers was fought through lawyers and corporate statements. But now, the conflict has entered a dark, deeply personal, and vicious new phase. The “Dabarkads,” once a symbol of wholesome fun, is imploding, and the secrets are spilling out.

At the center of this new firestorm is Anjo Yllana, a 20-year veteran of the show, who has transformed from a loyal co-host into a relentless whistleblower. His target is not the production company. It is, specifically and personally, Senator Tito Sotto, the man he once worked for and now accuses of being a “syndicate” leader.

Yllana has been on a campaign of innuendo, dropping cryptic hints about Sotto’s character. In response, a “panicked” Sotto reportedly fired back, “Anong gusto mo, Pinoy Henyo tayo?” (What do you want, for us to play Pinoy Henyo?).

It was a dare. A challenge to stop playing games and say what he meant. Anjo Yllana has now accepted that challenge, and the allegations he has unleashed are threatening to destroy the 46-year legacy of a television icon. This is no longer a corporate fight; it’s a war of personal annihilation.

The most shocking allegation is not political. It’s a threat aimed directly at Sotto’s personal life and his carefully crafted image as a devoted family man. Yllana has now, in no uncertain terms, threatened to expose Sotto’s alleged “kabit,” or mistress.

“Gusto mo talaga sabihin ko kung sinong kabit mo?” (Do you really want me to say who your mistress is?) Yllana challenged, as captured in a recent video analysis. This threat was not a vague smear. Yllana escalated it, claiming he knows the specific, intimate details. “Sasabihin ko lang yung address kung saan mo binabahay yung… girlfriend mo sa Bulaga. Tapos ka na.” (I’ll just say the address where you house your girlfriend from Bulaga. You’re finished.)

This is a devastating, “scorched earth” tactic. It drags Sotto’s wife of decades, Helen Gamboa, into the crossfire. The vlogger analyzing the feud even expressed pity for Sotto’s wife, a woman seen by the public as “mabait” (kind). By threatening to reveal an address, Yllana is claiming to have receipts, turning a rumor into a verifiable accusation.

But Yllana didn’t stop there. He added a twist so sordid it sounds like a soap opera plot. He alleged that this same woman was also involved with Tito’s brother, Vic “Bossing” Sotto, and that the two were “sabay pa kayo” (at the same time).

This allegation is a precision strike against the entire TVJ dynamic. For decades, the public has understood their “packaging.” Joey de Leon is the creative genius. Vic Sotto is the beloved “Bossing,” the charming lady’s man. And Tito Sotto has always been the “straight man,” the politician, the serious, and, most importantly, the “loyal” husband.

Yllana’s claims are designed to detonate this public persona. He is effectively saying that the “loyal” one was not only cheating but was doing so in a way that involved his own brother. It’s a claim meant to expose Sotto as the biggest hypocrite of the group.

This personal animosity is fueled by two decades of alleged professional grievances. Yllana has repeated his claim that Sotto is the head of a “sindikato” (syndicate) within the show. He pointedly, and perhaps strategically, exempts his other bosses. “Si Vic tsaka si Joey… nagtatrabaho lang yan,” (Vic and Joey… they’re just working), Yllana claims, isolating Tito Sotto as the sole source of the rot.

Why would Yllana make such explosive, career-ending claims now? According to him, it is the bitter fruit of a 20-year working relationship where he, and others, were allegedly treated as “basahan” (rags) by a “matapobre” (snobbish) and “bastos” (rude) boss. This is revenge. This is the voice of a man who feels he was mistreated for decades and is finally in a position to fight back.

However, Yllana himself admits the final catalyst for this war was political. He alleges that Sotto is furious with him for one reason: Yllana has pledged his loyalty to Vice President Sara Duterte, a political rival of the current administration, with whom Sotto is aligned.

This, Yllana claims, is the ultimate proof of Sotto’s arrogance. Sotto, he argues, believes that the help he gave Yllana over the years should be repaid with “habang buhay” (lifelong) loyalty, effectively making Yllana a political “tuta” (puppet).

“Dapat forever ka ng nakatali sa leeg mo,” (You should be forever tied by the neck), the vlogger said, characterizing Sotto’s mindset. “Pagka hinila ka, dapat gumaling ka kaagad.” (When he pulls you, you should immediately come.)

Yllana is framing this as his war of independence, a fight for his “sariling desisyon” (own decision) against a man who demands total, blind obedience.

The “Pinoy Henyo” dare has now taken on a terrifying new dimension. Sotto’s response, analyzed by the vlogger as a “bluff” and “pananakot” (intimidation tactic), has failed. Yllana is “hindi natitinag” (unshaken). In fact, he has escalated his own threats, darkly alluding to the unresolved death of Pepsi Paloma’s manager and stating he needs to leave a video for his family “pag pinapatay na ako nitong mga ‘to” (in case these people have me killed).

This has moved beyond a showbiz feud. It’s a political, personal, and now dangerous war of attrition. Sotto, the powerful senator, is being publicly dismantled by a former friend who was an insider for 20 years. Yllana is proving he knows where all the “kalansay sa aparador” (skeletons in the closet) are, and he is ready to show the public every single one.

The “Pinoy Henyo” game has begun. Sotto has dared his accuser to name names. Yllana is responding by holding up the scorecard and threatening to reveal the answer, the address, and the history of every dark secret he’s been forced to keep. The beloved “Dabarkads” family is dead, and this bitter, public autopsy is just getting started.