Sen. Erwin Tulfo Speaks on Possible Impeachment Trial of VP Sara Duterte
ERWIN TULFO – The Senator is confident that there will be no change of leadership in the Senate amid the possible impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate Pres. Tito Sotto recently assured that the preparations for the possible impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will not affect their legislative work. According to the Senate Chief, convening as an impeachment court is part of their job.
Sotto previously claimed that he sought some guidance from his “justice friends” amid the possibility that the chamber will have to convene as an impeachment court. The House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice recently approved a report to take the impeachment complaints against Duterte to the plenary.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte ditched four (4) impeachment hearings conducted by the panel. According to her camp, they believe that the Senate is supposedly the “proper forum” to answer to the allegations against the Vice President.
Atty. Michael Poa, the spokesperson of the legal team of the Vice President, claimed that they are not only after winning. They also want to show to the Filipino people that Duterte is not corrupt.
Following 4 impeachment hearings, the House Justice Committee found probable cause to impeach the Vice President. Here are the findings of the panel:
- Detainee Ramil Madriaga’s account of disbursing P125 million worth of confidential funds of the Vice President within 24 hours with cash deliveries in Laguna, Quezon City, and the Office of the Ombudsman
- Madriaga signing a bank waiver to prove that he has nothing to hide
- Madriaga alleging that the Vice President’s election campaign may have been financed by Pharmally which has been linked to anomalous government procurement
- the Commission on Audit (COA) revealing that the notice of disallowance on the P73 million confidential fund in 2022 was upheld by the COA commission proper
- The NBI representatives testifying on signatures in the acknowledgment receipts of recipients of confidential funds
- COA’s Gloria Camora, a lawyer of COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office, confirming that COA also issued three notices of disallowance on three releases of confidential funds for the OVP in 2023 worth P125 million each or P375 million in total
- the testimonies of various resource persons, regarding the “envelopes” and the questionable receipts, and other statements
- the Philippine Statistics Authority testifying that recipients of confidential funds, such as Mary Grace Piattos, Milky Secuya, and Kokoy Villamin do not have records in the country’s civil registry
- the Vice President not declaring any cash on hand or in bank under her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2019 to 2024
- the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) report flagging P6.7 billion worth of bank transactions of the Vice President and her husband, Manases Carpio, as covered and suspicious transactions from 2006 to 2025, with inflow standing at P4.425 billion and outflow at P1.55 billion
- the AMLC report revealed that there is a derogatory record for the Vice President and her husband
- the AMLC report showing that Vice President was the subject of suspicion in 27 confidential reports dated August 2, 2024 to January 29, 2026 due to suspected activities involving drug trafficking and related offenses, graft and corrupt practices, and malversation of public funds and property in connection with the House Quad Committee hearing on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, news reports alleging the involvement of the Vice President’s husband in the P6.4 billion shabu importation in 2017 and the news reports on the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds
- the AMLC report showing that her husband, Atty. Carpio, as subject of suspicion in 17 confidential reports from September 14, 2017 to April 25, 2025 due to suspected activities involving drug trafficking and related offenses, and malversation of public funds and property “in connection with the news reports on alleged his involvement in the PP6.4 billion shabu importation in 2017 and news articles in relation to his wife, VP Sara’s, alleged misuse of confidential/intelligence funds”
- the AMLC confirmation that at least 18 bank transactions linked to Vice President Sara Duterte and her family members, as cited in the affidavit of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, match records of covered and suspicious transaction reports
- the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) findings that the video of a press conference showing Vice President Duterte making a threat to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his family members in certain circumstances constitutes inciting to sedition and three counts of grave threat, among others.
Amid the possibility that the impeachment moves against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will reach the Senate, there are rumors that some senators might block the impeachment trial. There are also talks about the possible change of leadership — which Sen. Erwin Tulfo denied.
Based on News5, Sen. Erwin Tulfo stressed that the Philippines is facing a lot of problems right now. He cited the country’s problems with the costs of fuel, food, as well as healthcare.
“We have a lot of problems… Uunahin pa ba nating ‘yung mga issue ng change of leadership?” the Senator said.
Based on the post, Sen. Erwin Tulfo also expressed that the senators should not prioritize the interest of the people and not their own nor their parties’.
“Siguro dapat unahin natin, huwag natin unahin ang ating sarili, ang ating mga partido, ‘yung interest ng mga ‘yan. Dapat ‘yung interes ng tao muna,” Tulfo said.
Former Senate Pres. Koko Pimentel has also reacted to the rumors that some senators might block the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
