Erwin Tulfo explains why he didn't sign impeachment complaint vs VP Duterte
At A Glance
- ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo said his favorable chances of becoming a senator after the May 12 elections prevented him from signing the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte that was ultimately referred to the Senate.
ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB)
ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo said his favorable chances of becoming a senator after the May 12 elections prevented him from signing the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte that was ultimately referred to the Senate.
"I did not affix my signature to the impeachment complaint filed against Vice President
Sara Duterte to ensure that my judgment remains impartial should I become a senator-
judge," senatorial aspirant Tulfo said in a statement Thursday morning, Feb. 6.
Among the majority House members, Tulfo was among the more conspicuous names that were absent on the list of 215 signatories to the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte.
He explained that, "As a top contender in the upcoming senatorial elections, I may be among the new senators tasked with judging the said impeachment complaint."
"When that time comes, I will meticulously examine every piece of evidence presented before the body," said the deputy majority leader for communications.
"Nevertheless, amid these circumstances, I remain steadfast in advancing my advocacies to improve the lives of Filipinos by continuously pushing for policies and programs that promote better healthcare and education, lower prices of goods, and enhanced social welfare for our countrymen," Tulfo said.
Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate) went on recess after Wednesday's plenary session in preparation for the mid-term elections. The duly endorsed and verified impeachmemt complaint against the Vice President was transmitted to the Senate Wednesday night.
The lawmakers won't reconvene until June 2.
On July 1, the terms of the newly-elected senators under the new 20th Congress will start.
The Senate is compelled to transition into an impeachment trial court upon receipt of the impeachment complaint. However, it is not yet clear when the senators would perform this task in the impeachment process.