Tulfo's 'Focus on Impeachment' Remark Resonates with Filipinos

Senator Erwin Tulfo's recent remarks calling for a focus on the impeachment trial of the Vice President have resonated with the Filipino public. The senator-judge expressed his concern that some of his colleagues were using the proceedings to discuss unrelated personal issues rather than concentrating on the articles of impeachment filed against Vice President Sara Duterte. During the trial, Tulfo observed that certain senators were veering off-topic, using their manifestations to address personal matters. He specifically cited an instance where Senator Robin Padilla brought up a complaint filed against him by the Ombudsman for allegedly failing to submit a counter-affidavit. The Ombudsman had summoned Padilla to respond to accusations by the civil society group Tindig Pilipinas, which claimed he assisted Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in evading an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Tulfo urged his colleagues to refrain from diverting the impeachment court's attention. "Can we please not bring problems outside of this impeachment court, or outside of the Vice President's case, here? Wasn't this court established for the Vice President and for the Vice President alone?" he stated. He emphasized that evidence, testimonies, and statements should pertain solely to the Vice President's impeachment. He further noted that some senators had been using the impeachment proceedings to defend themselves against issues involving them. "This is not the right forum and the right venue, and not the right time, to explain your situation. If you want to explain your thoughts and problems, you can do so outside of the impeachment court's hours," Tulfo advised. He suggested that senators could hold press conferences, utilize the Senate media, or use platforms like Facebook and YouTube for explanations, rather than consuming the valuable time of the impeachment court. Tulfo stressed that the impeachment trial was intended to hear evidence presented by Duterte's team and the prosecution, not to serve as a platform for senators to defend themselves against unrelated matters. A video of his speech during the seventh day of the impeachment trial gained significant traction online after being shared on X (formerly Twitter). Many Filipinos expressed their agreement, with comments such as "FINALLY, SOMEONE SAID IT," and "Haayyyysss, at last, someone got fed up and spoke. Thank you, SEN. ERWIN TULFO!" The trial is currently addressing the fourth article of impeachment, which concerns alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, as well as remarks that could incite sedition. These remarks were reportedly made by Duterte during a November 2024 online press briefing, where she claimed to have hired an assassin to kill the First Couple and the President's cousin. Source: Interaksyon Politics