Majority feeling pressure amid possible Senate leadership change — Sen. Erwin

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[00:00:00]Tonight we speak with Senator Irwin Tulfo. Good evening Senator. Welcome to the big story.

[00:00:06]>> Thank you uh Tes Sean and Paul. Thank you.

[00:00:10]>> All right Senator in your all member caucus last night, right? Did was the uh tearful exchange uh at the plenary discussed?

[00:00:24]>> No. Uh ladies, um what we discussed was uh the schedule for the uh impeachment prior which will commence on July 6.

[00:00:38]>> July 6, that's the the unmovable date now.

[00:00:45]uh un unless they change it, unless the uh Senate President and the members would uh uh agree now because uh there will be pre-trial uh this June which will be the uh marking of uh evidence and then uh uh submission of statements etc. So the the the the trial will really commence on July 6. Senator, how would you uh describe yourself as a senator judge?

[00:01:21]Would you be strictly legalistic looking at the evidence or will you vote along political lines?

[00:01:32]>> Um I I don't think you will vote because uh you're an ally or you're uh in the opposition. you do not like the person and ladies you will make your decision because you hate the person or because you're a close friend or an ally or supporter. I I believe that the right way as a judge is like you vote I mean uh you make a decision based on the pieces of evidence submitted uh before you uh sort of uh you can make the right decision guilty. Why? Why? Why will you give your verdict evidence there's this hard and sufficient evidence to to convict and then you will acquit the person.

[00:02:33]So uh the way I look at it right now uh is that you always have to rule based on the the evidence uh submitted to you like even even as journalists we we don't conclude uh as commentators unless we hear both sides the the accused and then that's the one accusing. So we get both sides and then that's how we react if we write our story. Mhm.

[00:03:00]>> Mhm. Uh what if your other sen the other your other colleagues will not have the same viewpoint? What do you think? Are there those who are who have already made up their minds?

[00:03:18]>> Um I cannot speak for for the others senators. You notice then you also saw them making remarks that they want the case dismissed right away without even looking or seeing the evidence yet.

[00:03:32]They're already saying dismissed. Your first attempt during the term of uh uh I think uh it was already during the time of uh Senator Sto as the the the Senate President. uh there were uh the other group was already trying to dismiss the case but then but then uh the others were saying like no why why would we do that? So uh I believe that was during the time of uh uh Jesus Senate President because someone wants to dismiss the case right away without even going to trial. So um you senators who were who were making such remarks I I think they've already ruled right now they they have already you can already see basing on their statements what their decision would be uh during the trial.

[00:04:28]>> Okay. But uh has the Senate President or anybody from the Senate brought up the fact that maybe we should stop making comments ma to the media because that also happened uh last year and it's also actually a way for senators to avoid conflict at this early point.

[00:04:44]>> I think common sense ladies uh will dictate you should not be making any statements like we'll have to dismiss this without even seeing the the the evidence. Then you're already saying now dismiss this case. I mean because this person is not guilty without you us looking at the evidence. I mean submitted before us by by Congress and I think that will be unfair and that will not only be unfair for for us but also for the entire public waiting for this trial. uh lady >> I wanted to get an update uh Senator Irwin if discuss s all senators caucus you matter of the zoom voting and when you will debate about it or vote on it in the plenary.

[00:05:31]>> No, there was no debate on the zoom voting. Uh it was raised on the floor by uh senator Maruetta.

[00:05:38]Uh I believe even before the the turnover or the coupeta it was already raised. It was a uh manifestation by Senator Dante Marco a couple of weeks ago now to allow uh voting of members even though they're outside of the uh plenary or of the Senate and uh well we left it like that per the decision amongst the minority. Now our minorities like because outside of the session hall during the pandemic because there were lockdowns but now I mean reason why don't you come over and then and then and then cast your vote here in the Senate.

[00:06:30]>> But senator I wanted to ask no how was the mood like last night during the all member caucus? Were there tensions or were you able to set aside the issues first uh between the majority and the minority blocks?

[00:06:44]>> No, it was very professional. Um, everybody was there. Uh, Senator Robin visitors arrive few minutes later. It was it was it was very professional. uh the uh senator uh uh Senate President Deano was sitting uh Duna minority side uh and then the presiding officer or or the presiding uh individual uh for the caucus was the uh Senate Secretary and he was giving the date like this uh Mondays Tuesdays like that so argument so everybody was asking question senator Pia senator pangan I asked the question also and I raised again and I reminded them guys we have to publish this so that everybody will know including the media and the public par they can watch because they we're going live on this and Senator Cayatana said yeah uh we'll do that we'll have to immediately give out uh the schedule to the media >> Senator Tulfo we're every day we're holding our breath for a for a supposed change in leadership because of the very thin margin. But uh every time even if um it appears now, you know, even some senators uh alert some of her trusted uh uh media uh media covering the Senate that there will be. Is it true that um it almost happened but then Senator Chis Escudero was not accepted as a potential Senate President.

[00:08:32]It did that um happen.

[00:08:35]I I I don't know uh with a group but uh uh the reason why was like well I can give you a a uh a a glimpse now okay the majority wants uh one or couple of people from us and then our group also wants uh somebody from them cuz looking it looking at it right now ladies like uh it's 1211 uh but it's not there anymore and he cannot vote. uh so very I mean just one person this one individual will just shift and it change his or her mind then the whole thing will change again the majority minority composition will change again so that's why I said like any time this might happen so regarding cheese nobody likes cheese I don't know I um uh if it was brought up to the group after all of I I I did not hear anything from it.

[00:09:42]>> So would you say uh the Senate Coupe is still a developing story meaning um it could still change any I mean we do know anytime it could change but is there an active um effort on either side you know to recruit just one member to flip.

[00:09:59]>> It will always be there. Uh ladies uh Sean if I'm not mistaken. This is Sean.

[00:10:06]>> Yes it is. Um yeah cuz 12 11 just you need just one person shift I mean step over going to the other side then so uh that that is the problem. So, so actually the the the pressure is on the other side on the majority. Let's put it that way.

[00:10:35]They're coming out of they're coming up with statements like so among ourselves. So pressure anytime anytime one one of them it will the whole thing will change again.

[00:10:55]>> Okay. And Senator um a lot of criticism of course um hitting the Senate since last week and this impeachment will just like heighten the political um leanings of of everybody.

[00:11:09]How do you guys did you guys talk about how you plan to try to improve the image of the Senate, you know, using this impeachment trial knowing that the political lines have been clearly drawn in the sand already?

[00:11:24]>> I don't know. We cannot dictate the uh the other group, but as in the minority, we were reminded by the minority leader uh even senator Luxon because these are senior members of uh the minority block.

[00:11:38]uh he have experienced Senator Piko Pang Linhan was reminding us and even Senator Lapid now we just have to rule based on the the the facts the evidence submitted if we don't see it like uh the person is not guilty then why why convict? So we're being reminded the the 11 this uh 11 individuals in the minority that we really have to rule based on that evidence is if uh sufficient the evidence then then convict then then stop then then drop the case then uh acquit uh the individual or the vice president. Mhm. But Senator, how do you feel about the criticism uh that the Senate as an institution is now facing?

[00:12:28]I know the public is saying it's losing.

[00:12:30]The Senate is losing its credibility.

[00:12:32]Last night, former Senate President Franklin Dillon said the prestige of the Senate is now all broken. Um how would you respond to that?

[00:12:44]>> In the other side, uh ladies, uh the majority, I don't see any problems with the minority right now. I mean um we accepted now. Yeah, we were defeated. Uh they're the majority now. So actually since uh Monday we were trying to like okay let's just go back to work and uh because there's a lot of uh bills resolutions that needs to be filed to be debated.

[00:13:12]We wasted we wasted like almost two weeks since they took over when so there's change of leadership and then uh about temporary restraining order we were talking all about it we we did not talk about the bills in front of us pending before the floor no and then on the third day shooting attack etc and then Monday again uh we were just talking about uh their almost had a fight etc. And then we just talked one one bill in particular about that um uh about the hospital detention of patients for six days. Six days we only talk one bill and that's very ironic. I mean people are waiting and it's badly needed as we speak there's still a lot of hospitals who who do detain their patients.

[00:14:18]It's really sad.

[00:14:28]So many things like this.

[00:14:39]We're fighting my um myas.

[00:14:47]>> So you are frustrated.

[00:14:49]>> In other words, frustrated.

[00:14:53]>> Exactly.

[00:14:55]Even you guys, you guys in the media watching from the outside, it's like a circus. You can't blame them. And people are thinking now circus the Senate. I can't blame them >> because it's really on us. I mean, it it it's happening instead of doing our job we entertain we entertain all these uh things like a kudeta I don't know >> now senator um the the uh uh road is clear to for the arrest warrant of the ICC to now uh go after Senator Bau de la Rosa the law enforcement agencies that is um the his supporters say this is a they are just safeguarding our sovereignty.

[00:15:51]When does that end and becomes a a protection or a shielding of accountability in the case of Bau? Do you do do you buy the argument that this is a sovereignty issue?

[00:16:07]>> I don't know. But uh the way I look at it uh uh ladies, I'm not a lawyer. I'm not a legal expert, but the the Department of Justice already ruled and said uh that uh the the ICC arrests warrant is valid and it can be enforced.

[00:16:24]So what else? The Senate, I mean the Supreme Court denied the temporary restraining order uh of the camp of Senator Dear Rosa. So they were saying like uh they they they just denied the pro for for uh for the arrest.

[00:16:42]>> So meaning that the DOJ decided then yesterday I think now okay you can be arrested today the senator de la Rosa can be arrested because the the ICC warrant is valid and then it already gave instruction to the PNP to arrest dear Rosa. So I don't know and DOJ is part of the executive. It is part of our government but it's not it's not ICC anymore. The DOJ said now it's valid. The ICC warrant is valid. So I don't know what what uh uh other contention or defense uh they can give >> now senator on Monday. So you're frustrated, but on Monday because did you not agree now you will be discussing the uh shooting incident at the Senate and that may be again a very divisive uh you know discussion.

[00:17:41]I uh I bet you uh the the the session will start at 3:00 and there are eight senators from the majority who wants to stand up and speak >> and then there's one from the minority.

[00:17:55]So the total of nine give or take each senator will talk like around 5 to 10 minutes and there'll be interpolations etc etc. Uh uh I hope there will be no fights.

[00:18:12]But the way I look at it, we will waste another day. We will waste another day.

[00:18:19]Senator, um, what will the Senate do for its part? No. With Senator Bau de la Rosa, your own colleague, now that the law enforcement has called for a full manhunt against Senator Dear Rosa, he's now a fugitive from justice. And in the event that he seeks refuge or protective custody again from the Senate, will you be taking a stand?

[00:18:41]Oh well, Siguro the um it's up to the Senate leadership now. I mean the majority of the Senate President if he will allow that Senator Delar Roa will seek refuge again in the Senate that will be on Senator Alan Peter Teetano if he will allow that another member of the Senate. uh there's already procedenator they gave up eventually after few days so I cannot really make a comment that said like there was already procedur as a a refuge so it's it's kind of hard to to say something or comment Senator, um going back to the impeachment, of course there are fears, um can you give us an assurance? I know you're with the minority, but that you know even the majority and as per your conversations at your closed door Senate caucus last night all systems finally I I believe everybody majority minority we all agree now we're this really has to uh push through as the people are waiting the public are waiting or watching so uh there's no more reason I I I don't think uh excuse that uh we have to delay this or railroad this uh someone was already given to the office of the uh vice president and then uh uh the uh to the prosecution after that will be given five calendar days to uh submit uh their their deposition and then the marking of the evidence or the pre-trial. So reason we have to stop, we have to delay and then it was already set by the Senate President himself. Now July 6 the target July 6 of around uh uh 3 p.m.

[00:20:58]will be the start of the first day of trial.

[00:21:01]>> All right. We thank you so much Senator Irwin Tulfo for rescuing rescuing us tonight. We had, I'm sure you know that we had uh a senator from the majority, Senator Amy Marcos, but um uh she begged off and hoped to see her in another uh episode of The Big Story. Thank you, Senator Irwin.