PASAY CITY, Philippines — Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday, October 5, urged the Senate impeachment court to reprimand its spokesperson, Atty. Reginald Tongol, following his public remarks suggesting a final verdict in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte could be rendered by December 16.
Delivering a manifestation during the trial proceedings, Tulfo expressed concern that Tongol’s statements misled the public into believing the outcome of the proceedings had already been pre-determined.
“Now it’s about time na mag-issue tayo ng warning sa sarili nating spokesperson,” Tulfo stated.
Tulfo shared that several friends and acquaintances reached out over the weekend asking if the tribunal had officially targeted mid-December for a final decision.
“Sabi, ‘Na-prejudge niyo na agad.’ Yung outcome, ng impeachment, kasi itong si Reginald Tongol ba ito, sorry kung mispronounce ko pangalan niya, na nagsalita sa media na sa December 16, eh magkakaroon daw daw tayo ng final verdict. Sa impeachment trial ni VP Sara,” Tulfo recalled.
In response to Tulfo’s query regarding the validity of the statement, Senate President and presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero clarified that Tongol’s assertion was not entirely accurate, explaining that any projected timeline was merely an estimate based on the Senate calendar and the trial dates requested by both legal teams.
“That is not entirely accurate,” Escudero clarified.
When Tulfo pressed if the claim amounted to fake news, Escudero reiterated his position.
“It’s based on math, not based on the realities on the ground of the trial. It may be a working mathematical equation, but certainly not based on reality. Much less is that the point of view of the court,” Escudero said, noting that the prosecution had requested 62 trial days while the defense asked for 30.
Unsatisfied, Tulfo urged the court to formally discipline the spokesperson for repeatedly addressing the media without consulting the senator-judges beforehand.
“Maraming beses na siyang sumablay, pumalpak, paulit-ulit na lang,” Tulfo argued.
“Buti pa siya, marami siyang alam, eh itong mga Senator Judges, mga kasamahan ko, there are things na hindi namin alam, nabubulaga na lang kami pag nagdakdak siya sa media, kumbaga inuunahan niya tayo, pine-preempt niya tayo,” he added.
Escudero assured the tribunal that the court would take Tulfo’s manifestation under advisement and issue appropriate instructions to its spokesperson.
Tulfo’s call follows similar criticisms from Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who previously disputed Tongol’s claim that the court was confident in wrapping up the trial by December 16 and admonished him for speaking on behalf of the judges without prior consultation.