Erwin Tulfo dismisses Senate coup talks anew

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Monday dismissed speculation of a possible change in Senate leadership amid the anticipated impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“I don’t think so. I think they cannot muster enough votes for that,” Tulfo, who is a member of the majority bloc, told reporters in an ambush interview. He did not provide details on who he was referring to.

The Senate is expected to act as an impeachment court once it receives the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III earlier said the chamber would convene immediately and hold pre-trial proceedings before the formal trial.

Sotto, who assumed the Senate presidency from Sen. Francis Escudero following the aborted impeachment proceedings against Duterte in the 19th Congress, said the Constitution requires Congress to act on impeachment “forthwith,” which he interpreted as meaning “immediately.”

On Monday, the House Committee on Justice unanimously approved the committee report and resolution containing the articles of impeachment against the Vice President, paving the way for a plenary vote.

In February, reports surfaced that some senators were reportedly poised to install Sen. Loren Legarda as Senate president amid disagreements over the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s recommendations on its investigation into the flood control fund controversy.

Sotto remained Senate president amid reported lobbying by some senators to "water down" the findings of the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Despite the brewing political dynamics, Tulfo said senators should prioritize urgent public concerns.

“We have a lot of problems. Napakadaming problema, di ba? Problema sa petrolyo, napakataas. Healthcare, mga tao hindi alam kung saan kukuha ng pambayad sa hospital. Pagkain, napakamahal. Salaries—uunahin pa ba natin yung change of leadership? Why?” he said.

(We have many problems—high fuel prices, healthcare, people not knowing where to get money for hospital bills, expensive food, salaries. Are we going to prioritize a change of leadership? Why?)

“Siguro dapat unahin natin ang interes ng taumbayan, huwag ang sarili natin o ang mga partido natin,” he added.

(Maybe we should prioritize the interest of the people, not ourselves or our political parties.)—MCG, GMA News