TheMonitorMindanaoToday.com | Tulfo Rejects Cayetano Bloc Flood Control Probe, Calls It a ‘Sham Hearing’
Senator Erwin Tulfo dismissed the flood control inquiry conducted by the bloc aligned with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, insisting the proceeding was not an official Senate hearing and had no standing under Senate rules.
In a radio interview, Tulfo maintained that the Senate leadership under Senator Sherwin Gatchalian remains the recognized authority in the chamber and questioned the legitimacy of the June 4 proceeding.
“Meeting, press conference, forum lang po iyon,” Tulfo said, arguing that the activity was not recorded in the Senate journal and lacked the participation of the official Blue Ribbon Committee staff and secretariat.
“Kahit nagsumpa pa sila, saan po pupunta iyon? Hindi naman recorded iyon sa journals ng Senate. Wala pong mga miyembro at staff ng Blue Ribbon. Saan mo dadalhin iyon?” he added.
According to Tulfo, the official Blue Ribbon Committee hearing was scheduled under the leadership recognized by the current Senate majority, with resource persons invited through the committee secretariat.
“Illegal ‘yan. That is a sham hearing and hindi dapat tinatawag na hearing kasi dineklara natin na Monday po ang hearing ng Blue Ribbon,” he said.
The senator’s remarks came amid the continuing dispute over Senate leadership and control of committee proceedings, with rival factions maintaining separate claims over authority in the chamber.
As the Senate convenes today for the start of the impeachment proceedings, Tulfo said attendance by senators who oppose the current leadership would reveal their position on the issue.
“Abangan na lang natin sa July 6 kung sisipot sila. Kasi may quorum kami. Kung hindi sila sisipot, they will be sending the wrong signal to the public na kontra sila sa impeachment,” he said.
Tulfo also welcomed efforts to challenge the Senate leadership change before the Supreme Court, saying a ruling could settle the controversy.
“Maganda iyon. Natutuwa kami na kino-question nila ang change of leadership sa Senate kasi may ruling naman na kasi diyan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tulfo dismissed allegations made by a former Marine officer linking him to alleged cash payoffs and other irregularities, describing the accusations as politically motivated and unsupported by evidence.
He said he is preparing legal action against his accusers and challenged them to bring their allegations before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Madali lang pong magturo ngayon. Kung may ebidensya sila, dalhin nila sa Ombudsman at kasuhan nila ako,” Tulfo said.
Despite the allegations and the ongoing political dispute, Tulfo said he remains focused on his work in the Senate and is not considering a presidential or vice-presidential bid.
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