Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo Speaks on Impeachment Trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte
ERWIN TULFO – The Senator-elect expressed his belief that the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte should proceed in the 20th Congress.
The decision of the Senate to return the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives was welcomed by different reactions. The unexpected turn took place after the rest of the senators have taken their oath as senator judges of the impeachment court in Duterte’s trial.
Eighteen (18) senator judges voted in support for the motion to remand Duterte’s impeachment to the House. The move bears questions over the constitutionality of the impeachment of the former President and a request of a reconfirmation from the 20th Congress.
According to Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, the return of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House does not equate to the dismissal of the impeachment case against her. He expressed that it is just a chance for the House prosecution panel to address the questions of the senator judges.
All senators cast their votes on the return of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment to the House. Here are those who expressed support and opposition on the motion to remand the impeacment:
YES
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
NO
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Grace Poe
- Nancy Binay
Since the 19th Congress has adjourned already, there will be senator judges in the 19th Congress who won’t be part of the impeachment court in the 20th Congress if the trial proceeds. There are also those who will have to take their oath if the trial pushes through. One of them is senator-elect Erwin Tulfo.
Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo was one of the candidates of the Alyansa Para Sa Pagbabago senatorial slate backed by the Marcos administration who won the 2025 Midterm Elections. Tulfo was emotional at his late mother’s grave after he won the senatorial election.
In the Senate, the Senator-elect is set to join his brother, Sen. Raffy Tulfo. He previously said he has yet to decide on his vote for the Senate presidency.
On the issue of the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, based on a post of ABS-CBN News, Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo recently expressed his belief that the impeachment trial must proceed. According to him, if the Vice President is not guilty, she will be acquitted. Otherwise, she will be convicted.
“Personally, why not? Kung the VP is not guilty then so be it, let’s dismiss the case…Pero kung the evidence will really ika nga, ididiin siya doon, then we don’t have a choice,” he said.
Previously, former Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile stressed that the Constitution orders “forthwith” with regards to impeachment cases. He was a senator judge in the impeachment of former Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada and the presiding officer in the impeachment trial of former Justice chief Renato Corona.