Sen. Erwin rejects Cayetano's ‘puppet Senate’ claim

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]Joining us tonight on the big story is Senator Irwin Tulfo. Good evening, Senator.

[00:00:08]Senator, can you hear us?

[00:00:09]>> Hi, S. Good evening. Thank you for inviting me in your program.

[00:00:12]>> All right.

[00:00:13]>> Yeah, I can hear. Can you hear me?

[00:00:15]>> Yes. Senator Alan Peter Cayatano alluded to a puppet Senate.

[00:00:22]Do you believe that that is what the minority block stands for?

[00:00:31]Well, what he uh we have to fight uh misses uh for the u the Senate. We have to uh fight for our rules, our uh uh Senate rules. That's what uh we are fighting for. And including in those rules are like we have to have uh sessions every day so that we'll be able to pass uh bills uh that will become law in the very near future. Unfortunately, if we don't have a quorum, then we cannot conduct any uh uh sessions. Uh uh Mrs. >> Senator Irwin I mean independence.

[00:01:27]Is he talking about administration or executive senado?

[00:01:38]uh is he talking based on his experience when he was the speaker of the house uh when he was the speaker of uh uh the congress in 2020 wherein uh president Rodrigo Duterte stepped in and said move aside let Alan Velasco sit as the Senate President uh uh speaker of the house is he talking uh based on experience speaker of the Senator Flood Control Investigation, Blue Ribbon Committee.

[00:02:34]Who said that?

[00:02:36]I mean it's a figment of his imagination. Miss uh says >> I mean we're open we will attend. Uh if there will be a hearing then then then we we will we will attend.

[00:02:58]We're waiting for an invitation to join the subcommittee. As a matter of fact, the members of the mother committee, the blue ribbon headed by Senator Piaano, we should have members from the minority in that committee. So subcommittee is the same thing. Unfortunately, minority subcommittee blue ribbon.

[00:03:30]He did not say that and he did not invite us Thursday.

[00:03:47]rules.

[00:03:55]No, that's not true. Um, Mrs. We were protecting the institution. We were protecting the rules of the Senate.

[00:04:16]section 41C video conferencing okay that's okay we have to deliberate on it we have to discuss about it no we'll just divide the house that's not the right process Miss the right process uh should have been uh we could have uh discussed it on the floor and then we we really disagree then we can divide the house.

[00:04:53]So how how can that be? So I mean they want to cut short yes they're protecting also they're protecting the interest of some of their members the other day they're in pro they're protesting we are protecting the Senate rules the institution they're protecting individuals warrants of arrest. Mrs. >> Senator, it's the second day session because some legal luminaries site article 4 section 16 of the constitution attend session hall.

[00:05:53]Will it come to that?

[00:05:56]>> That is only I believe I believe this only applicable if they're just in their offices. M Unfortunately, how can you compel them or what have So, what's the alternative tomorrow?

[00:06:50]What do you plan on doing?

[00:06:56]>> It's in their hands, Mrs. The ball is in their hands.

[00:07:08]Senator Cayatano. Then we are begging our colleagues from the Senate Proemporary, uh, Senator Lauren Legarda, the majority leader, Senator Villanovva, and the rest of them, please come back to work. Let's sit down. Let's work.

[00:07:26]for Thursday or so. Wednesdays, >> Senator Irwin, you're a neoight senator.

[00:07:52]Did you expect that this would happen after you know your election?

[00:08:03]No, I did not uh Mrs. uh as a matter of fact but this is a baptism of fire for me. I mean in one year less than one year four I mean three three Senate presidents from Senator Migs to Cheese to to Senator Sto and now to SP uh um Gachalyan Pagnati.

[00:08:35]So imagine that uh 10 months uh almost four uh Senate presidents.

[00:08:41]>> Mhm. So it's a big disappointment. I maybe that's an understatement.

[00:08:51]>> It is an understatement miss. It is u uh disgusting. It's sad. Uh especially the taxpayers who are paying our salaries when we are not working.

[00:09:05]I mean, you're you're part of that.

[00:09:06]You're paying our salaries. And then money, your money's worth.

[00:09:10]>> It's not worth it. You're paying somebody to work to to pass to legislate laws and yet they don't come to work.

[00:09:20]Hiding and running.

[00:09:23]What how would you feel? Uh, Mrs. I mean, you're the employer. You guys are our employers. We are the employees. If how come you guys the employers have to work every day? You do the daily grind.

[00:09:36]We just sit in the comforts of our home.

[00:09:38]We hide because there's a warrant of arrest. How would you feel?

[00:09:55]Is that proper? Is that right? Is that justice?

[00:10:00]Senator, the EIC of the Philippine Star wants a refund of your salary taxes in >> All right. We thank you for your time.

[00:10:20]>> I can't blame them. I can't blame those people asking asking for refund. I can't I can't blame them.

[00:10:26]>> We thank you for your time. Senator Irwin Tulfo.