Erwin Tulfo explains why he didn't sign Sara impeachment

ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo on Thursday said he opted not to sign the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to ensure "impartiality" should he be elected senator and serve as a senator-judge in her trial.

Tulfo, who is a leading senatorial aspirant for Eleksyon 2025, issued the statement in a Facebook post. He is currently running under the administration ticket, the Alyansa ng Bagong Pilipinas (ABP) coalition.

"Hindi po ako pumirma sa impeachment complaint laban kay VP Sara dahil iniiwasan ko pong magkaroon ng bahid ang aking paghuhusga sa impeachment trial sakaling manalo ako bilang senador at maging senator-judge po tayo," Tulfo said in a Facebook post.

(I did not sign the impeachment complaint against VP Sara because I wanted to avoid having my judgment tainted in the impeachment trial, in case I win as a senator and I become one of the senator-judges.)

"Ilang buwan na lang bago ang halalan at magkakaroon ng bagong grupo ng mga senador na sisiyasat sa mga ebidensya. Ito 'yung pagtutuunan natin ng pansin sakaling maging senator-judge po tayo—na magbigay ng tamang hatol o desisyun ayon sa mga ilalatag na ebidensya ng magkabilang panig," he added.

(The election is only a few months away and there will be a new group of senators who will investigate the evidence. This is what I will focus on if I become a senator-judge—to give the right verdict or decision, based on the evidence presented by both sides.)

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on Wednesday, with 215 representatives endorsing the impeachment complaint against her.

The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate in the afternoon, but the upper House adjourned without tackling the impeachment case.

Senate President Francis Escudero said Thursday the proceedings would start when the Senate resumes session in June, after the May 12 elections.

Relatives who signed

Although Tulfo did not sign the impeachement complaint, his sister-in-law ACT-CIS Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo and his nephew Quezon City Rep. Ralph Wendell Tulfo affixed their signatures.

Meanwhile, several other incumbent lawmakers in the House of Representatives who are running for senator did not back the impeachment bid against Duterte.

Among them are 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Bonifacio Bosita, AGRI Partylist Rep. Wilbert Lee, SAGIP Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Valenzuela 2nd District Rep. Eric Martinez, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, and Tulfo.

On the other hand, senatorial aspirants Gabriela Women's Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro signed the complaint. Both of them endorsed the second impeachment complaint against Duterte.

As for relatives of other senatorial bets, some of them also refrained from signing as the wife of re-electionist Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Cavite 2nd District Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla; and their sons Cavite 1st District Rep. Ramon “Jolo” Revilla III, and Agimat Party-List Rep. Bryan Revilla.

Senatorial aspirant Makati Mayor Abigail Binay’s husband Makati Rep. Luis Campos Jr. also did not vote for Duterte’s impeachment.

Also endorsing the complaint are Cavite 8th District Rep. Aniela Bianca Tolentino, niece of re-electionist Senator Francis Tolentino.

Click here for the full list of the 215 House members who signed the impeachment complaint against Duterte. — VDV, GMA Integrated News