Tulfo willing to mediate Senate-House impeach row

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo is willing to intervene between the House of Representatives and the Senate for a ceasefire amid a word war between their spokespersons over Vice President Sara Duterte’s much delayed impeachment trial.

Tulfo yesterday said it might be a good idea for him to mediate as outgoing ACT-CIS party-list representative and an incoming 20th Congress senator.

“You gave me a good idea. I’ll try. I’ll talk to the House leadership maybe today or tomorrow, for a ceasefire from the word war and the blame game,” he said in Filipino.

Tulfo’s remarks came after Senate impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol and House prosecution team spokesman Antonio Bucoy, both lawyers, traded barbs this week for what the House deemed as delaying tactics when the Senate ordered the return of the impeachment complaint, even as it issued summons to the Vice President to answer allegations of confidential funds misuse and unexplained wealth.

Tongol urged the House to focus its energies on beefing up evidence instead of attacking the Senate, after Bucoy accused the Senate court of “foot-dragging” the trial.

Bucoy in turn castigated Tongol for his “inappropriate” statement in his latest press briefing that the Senate is “expecting” the Vice President’s camp to file a motion to dismiss, as if he was “telegraphing” to the other camp what it should do.

House spokesperson Princess Abante also slammed Tongol for “confusing the public” and blaming the House over the latter’s note “Tender Copy refuse to receive” in the Vice President defense lawyers’ formal entry of appearance-Ad Cautelam that was filed with the Senate.

Abante said the note did not mean the House refused to accept the copy-furnished formal entry – only that the lower chamber seeks to be clarified about the purpose of the document, the same reason it has yet to accept the remanded Articles of Impeachment.

There was a respite from the word war yesterday as the Senate impeachment court spokesman did not answer reporters’ requests for reaction to the fresh attacks from the House.

About the Senate presidency contest, Tulfo said he has received calls from both Senate President Francis Escudero and former Senate president now fifth-term senator-elect Tito Sotto courting his support.

Tulfo said he has to consult his brother Sen. Raffy Tulfo about whether they would support the same candidate. Raffy is part of the majority under Escudero’s leadership. Erwin ran under the administration slate Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas with Sotto.

Erwin said he told them he hasn’t made his decision yet.

He also said he has not received any calls from another contender, the President’s sister, Sen. Imee Marcos. — Jose Rodel Clapano