MANILA, Philippines – The explosive feud between veteran comedian Anjo Yllana and former Senate President Tito Sotto has escalated dramatically, drawing the sharp intervention of veteran showbiz columnist and commentator, Cristy Fermin. Addressing Yllana’s recent sensational allegations, Fermin has launched a fierce counter-attack, accusing Yllana of “ingratitude” and revealing an undisclosed personal debt, effectively shifting the focus of the public debate.
The controversy began when Anjo Yllana took to social media to unleash a series of damaging accusations against Tito Sotto, shocking netizens. Yllana claimed Sotto had been maintaining an extramarital affair since 2013—a revelation Yllana claimed to know firsthand because Sotto allegedly had him run errands for the paramour. Yllana further claimed that Sotto was a leader of a purported “syndicate” operating within the long-running noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga!, and that the show’s staff were inherently “bad people.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Yllana alleged that he had spoken with a former director of Eat Bulaga! who had been driven out of the show due to character assassination carried out by insiders. Yllana claimed the director was in tears, recounting how he was smeared to ensure his removal.
Tito Sotto’s Stance: Elevating the Discourse
Tito Sotto’s initial response to these serious allegations was a picture of measured calm and political poise. He publicly dismissed Yllana’s claims, stating he would not engage in “showbiz mudslinging.”
“I will not dignify it. Don’t pay attention to it; he is just seeking attention,” Sotto stated, adding: “Why should we entertain show business and destructive mudslinging? Let us elevate the level of the Senate Press.” Sotto’s tactic was clear: to categorize Yllana’s revelations as mere showbiz drama unworthy of a serious response from a former high-ranking government official.
Fermin’s Fury: The Allegation of Ingratitude
This measured response, however, was not enough for Cristy Fermin, who used her platform to fiercely rebuke Anjo Yllana. Fermin accused Yllana of a profound “debt of ingratitude” towards the TVJ trio (Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon), who had helped establish him as a host on Eat Bulaga!
Fermin did not mince words, saying that Yllana’s actions were “shameful” and a poor repayment for the help he received. She questioned the motive behind his attack, wondering why he would single out Sotto and attack the very people who contributed significantly to his career success.
The Financial Revelation: An Unpaid Debt
Fermin’s most significant counter-revelation was highly personal and entirely unexpected: she exposed that Anjo Yllana allegedly owes a substantial debt to a male showbiz personality that remains unpaid to this day. Fermin claimed intimate knowledge of the situation, stating she was the “bridge” who facilitated the loan, thereby giving her statement undeniable credibility among entertainment insiders.
Fermin publicly demanded that Yllana focus on settling his financial obligations instead of attacking Tito Sotto’s humanitarian work. “You should prioritize paying that debt,” Fermin asserted. She specifically named the lender in her video statement: “Willy Revillame is the one he borrowed from!”
Fermin challenged Yllana: “Did you even tell Willy when you plan to pay him back? That should be your priority. Don’t question Tito Sen’s scholarship and humanitarian projects—you have no business with that!”
Defending the Late Director
Fermin also used her platform to back Yllana’s claim regarding the alleged character assassination of the former Eat Bulaga! director, but turned the blame back onto Yllana’s cohort. She named the late director as Direk Bert de Leon and implied that Sotto’s side, or the other members of the Eat Bulaga! circle, were responsible for his distress.
Fermin recounted the late director’s grief: “The late director, Direk Bert de Leon, he cried to me then because you conspired against him, you backstabbed him, you pierced him in the back so that he would be replaced as director, even his wife, they all conspired against him.” Fermin’s account here seems to be a complex narrative, suggesting Yllana’s recent revelations about the director might be based on truth, but that the guilt for the director’s ousting should be spread among the Eat Bulaga! veterans whom Yllana had recently been working with, including himself.
A Plea for Accountability
In essence, Cristy Fermin’s intervention served two main purposes: to shield Tito Sotto from personal attacks and to publicly demand accountability from Anjo Yllana. By revealing a tangible, verifiable issue (the debt to Willy Revillame), Fermin aimed to discredit Yllana’s entire narrative as a desperate attempt to gain attention and shift focus away from his own financial liabilities and past professional conduct.
The columnist’s final challenge to Yllana and the public was a pointed reminder of the values of loyalty and integrity in show business. The public debate has thus moved away from Sotto’s alleged affairs and shifted toward Yllana’s credibility and character, ensuring this sensational showbiz saga is far from over.
