Tulfo bucks remote voting in VP Sara’s impeachment trial

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

(Senate of the Philippines/facebook)

MANILA – Senator Erwin Tulfo on Thursday said the Senate minority bloc will not support any move to allow Senator Ronald Dela Rosa to vote in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte without being physically present.

Tulfo, in a television interview, said remote participation was allowed during the pandemic because of lockdowns and health restrictions, but the same conditions no longer exist.

“Ngayon po, everything’s okay naman po, kailangan po siguro ng presence sa Senado (Now, everything is okay, so physical presence in the Senate is probably necessary),” Tulfo said.

The senator made the statement when asked about a proposal of Senator Rodante Marcoleta to allow Dela Rosa to vote in the impeachment trial even if he is not physically present.

He said that many senators in the minority would likely reject the proposal, emphasizing that the rules adopted during the pandemic should not be used as a basis under normal conditions.

“Marami po sa amin, kami po sa minoriya at hindi po sasang-ayon po dyan. Kailangan po physically present (Many of us in the minority will not agree to that. Physical presence is needed),” he said.

Tulfo also said Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has already given senators the schedule for the impeachment trial, which is set to begin on July 6.

He said the Senate will hold regular sessions on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by impeachment trial proceedings from 2 p.m. onwards.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, he said the trial would begin at 3 p.m. and continue until the evening, while Thursdays would be devoted to a regular session.

Tulfo said the minority is also waiting for guidance from Cayetano’s office on Dela Rosa’s situation after the Supreme Court denied the national police chief-turned-lawmaker’s plea for a temporary restraining order against the International Criminal Court arrest warrant.

He said the direction should come from the Senate President’s office because the matter involves the institution and a sitting senator.

“Inaantay po namin actually ang mayorya po, lalo na po ang tanggapan ni Senator Cayetano dahil siya po ang aming Senate President. Dapat po magmumula sa kanya (We are waiting for the majority, especially the office of Senator Cayetano because he is our Senate President. It should come from him),” Tulfo said.

He said the minority would also wait for action on questions involving Senate CCTV footage reportedly showing Senator Robinhood Padilla with Dela Rosa before the latter left the Senate.

Tulfo said the majority should first act on the matter, but the minority may raise it on the floor if no action is taken.