Alan Peter Cayetano to Raffy Tulfo: 'Kung hindi lang kayo Tulfo, isusumbong ko na kayo kay Tulfo'

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday responded to Senator Raffy Tulfo’s challenge by quipping that he would “report” him to his own public affairs program for daring him to appear in the Senate.

“So yung hamon mo, magpakita ako kung hindi duwag, eh paano kung sinabi, halimbawa, ‘Senator, ikaw, maging independent kung hindi duwag ka,’" he said during a Facebook Live broadcast.

(So regarding your challenge for me to show up if I'm not a coward, what if someone said, for example, ‘Senator, you, be independent if you're not a coward.')

"This is not a radio or TV program, this is not entertainment. This is the Senate of the Philippines, so we have to be more professional,” he added.

Cayetano then referred to the Tulfo brothers’ public affairs programs, which have become widely known as platforms where complainants air grievances and seek assistance.

“Kung hindi ka lang Tulfo at kung hindi lang Tulfo si kapatid mong si Erwin, isinumbong ko na kay Tulfo. Pero ang reality is because nandiyan kayo, because we have a strong voice, use it for the good of the country,” he added.

(If only you weren't a Tulfo and if your brother Erwin weren't a Tulfo, I would have already reported you to Tulfo. But the reality is, because you are there, because we have a strong voice, use it for the good of the country.)

The 11-member Senate minority bloc called for Cayetano’s resignation over the majority bloc’s continued absence from plenary sessions since Monday.

“Hinahamon ko si Alan Peter Cayetano, kung matapang ka, pumunta ka rito bukas, otherwise, duwag ka,” Raffy Tulfo said during a press briefing.

(I am challenging Alan Peter Cayetano, if you are brave, come here tomorrow; otherwise, you are a coward.)

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier raised the possibility of filing an ethics complaint after members of the majority were a no-show for two hours in the plenary.

For his part, Cayetano said that cowardice depends on the situation.

“Ang kaduwagan po ay nag-uugat sa ano ba ang purpose o trabaho mo. For example, kung ang trabaho mo ay magtanim, pero bumabagyo, grabe po yung kidlat, eh hintayin mo muna mawala yung kidlat. Because it’s not a matter of tapang,” he said.

(Cowardice is rooted in what your purpose or job is. For example, if your job is to plant crops but there is a storm and the lightning is severe, you should wait for the lightning to pass first. Because it’s not a matter of bravery.)

“Ganun din sa sundalo, hindi natin isusuko ang mga sundalo natin sa mga bagay na suicide ang mission. Pero yung ipagtanggol ang bansa at mamatay para sa bansa, hindi lang sundalo, dapat pati rin tayong mga senador,” Cayetano added.

(The same applies to soldiers; we will not sacrifice them for suicide missions. But defending the country and dying for it should not only apply to soldiers, but also to us senators.)—MCG, GMA News