ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Erwin Tulfo apologizes for outbursts, threats vs senators in 'fake' Blue Ribbon probe.

Erwin Tulfo apologizes for outbursts, threats vs senators in 'fake' Blue Ribbon probe.

Published Jun 7, 2026 11:01 am

At A Glance

  • Senator Erwin Tulfo on Sunday, June 7 apologized about his heated outbursts and threats against senators whom he earlier criticized for attending what he called a "fake" Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last Thursday, June 4.
Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Sunday, June 7 apologized about his heated outbursts and threats against senators whom he earlier criticized for attending what he called a “fake” Blue Ribbon Committee hearing  last Thursday, June 4. 

“Over the past few days, we witnessed intense tension and emotion within the Senate. In recognition of the high institution to which I belong, I sincerely apologize to my colleagues for my aggressive remarks regarding the arrest, manhandling, and dragging of Senator (Alan) Cayetano and other individuals out of the session or plenary hall,” Tulfo said.

“This is not how an official, much less a senator, should behave. Those words, though inappropriate in public, came from my deep desire to stop delaying the work we owe the people. However, it was still wrong,” he said. 

Tulfo also asked for forgiveness over the recent clashes in the Senate that divided the nation inevitably. 

“I also ask forgiveness from our countrymen. Because of recent clashes, the session ended without advancing crucial legislation. Because of the seemingly endless arguments on politics, our mandate was paralyzed. And the Filipino people are the real losers here,” he said.

He called on senators to end the division and to just get back to work. 

“Therefore, I call upon my fellow Senators: let us end this division. Because outside of the Senate, some of us are friends, or even close peers and companions. So let us just get back to work,” he said.

“Let's craft laws, investigate irregularities without fear, and put every Filipino's welfare first. Unity doesn't mean backing down from the fight—it means joining forces to protect our nation,” he further said.

lIn these trying times for our nation, let's set aside personal interests. Let's win this for the Filipino people. Let's unite to restore the Senate's integrity and strength,” Tulfo appealed. 

Tulfo, last Friday, warned that he will order the arrest of senators who will hold a hearing of the Senate blue ribbon panel other than the one he presides as chairman. 

This, after the bloc led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano held a blue ribbon probe on the flood control anomalies, chaired by his sister Sen. Pia Cayetano and presided by Sen, Rodante Marcoleta.

Tulfo insisted that he is the legitimate chairman of the Senate blue ribbon panel after 12 senators voted to declare the Senate leadership positions vacant and moved to designate Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as the Senate President Pro Tempore.

Gatchalian now acts as the Senate president.

Related Tags

Erwin Tulfo Blue Ribbon Committee flood control probe flood control anomalies Senate leadership change
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.