Raffy Tulfo backs Sara Duterte impeachment trial: ‘Let her prove her innocence’

Senator Raffy Tulfo said Tuesday that he will vote against a possible motion to dismiss the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the trial should proceed in the 20th Congress so that Duterte can prove her innocence, as she claimed. 

“Gustong gusto ko matuloy ang impeachment [trial] para mabigyan natin ng pagkakataon si VP Sara na maisabi niya ‘yung kanyang side. Mas maganda diba ma-clear niya ang name niya sa pamamagitan ng pagdidpensya niya doon sa impeachment at mapapatunayan na inosente siya as opposed to ‘yung mababasura before na magkaroon ng hearing sa impeachment,” the senator said in a press conference. 

(I really want the impeachment trial to proceed so that we can give VP Sara a chance to tell her side. Wouldn't it be better if she clears her name by defending herself in the trial and proves her innocence instead of us dismissing it?)

“Kasi for now sinasabi nga niya na inosente siya, so let her prove it na inosente siya. Mas maganda ‘yung ma-prove niya na inosente siya sa pamamagitan ng trial,” he added. 

(For now she is saying that she is innocent, so let her prove it. It would be better if she could prove her innocence through a trial.) 

Tulfo said that he has been consulting the legal advice of former justices of the Supreme Court and Sandiganbayan as part of his preparations for the trial so that he “can make intelligent decisions at the end of the day.” 

When the Senate impeachment court first convened on June 10, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa made a motion in the Senate plenary seeking that the verified impeachment complaint against Duterte be dismissed.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano later that day moved to amend Dela Rosa's motion to instead make the articles of impeachment be returned to the House of Representatives without dismissing or terminating the case.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Vice President was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

Duterte, meanwhile, entered a “not guilty” plea in the verified impeachment complaint filed against her, which she called merely a “scrap of paper.” — BM, GMA Integrated News