Senator Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday vehemently denied allegations that the Senate minority bloc is using intimidation or pressure to recruit colleagues, amid persistent rumors of another impending shakeup in the upper chamber’s leadership.
The denial follows statements from Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, who claimed that opposing factions have been holding meetings, allegedly utilizing both incentives and threats to secure allegiances.
Tulfo strongly distanced his group from such actions during an ambush interview with reporters.
“Ay hindi! Hindi namin gagawin ‘yun at never ni isa sa amin hindi gumawa ng ganun,” Tulfo told reporters.
(“Oh no! We will not do that and never did even one of us do such a thing.”)
The friction stems from Cayetano’s press briefing on Monday, where he disclosed that intense lobbying was taking place behind the scenes.
“There were meetings that took place, calls from both sides. May enticement, may pananakot,” Cayetano had stated.
(“There were meetings that took place, calls from both sides. There is enticement, there is intimidation.”)
Despite the external political turbulence, Tulfo reassured the public that the minority faction remains unified and focused.
“Eh dito man maayos kami, solid kami, happy kami,” Tulfo added.
(“As for us here, we are orderly, we are solid, we are happy.”)
Tulfo belongs to an 11-member minority bloc led by Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. The group was formed following a swift leadership transition on May 13, which saw Sotto unseated and replaced by Cayetano.
Closing the interview, the broadcaster-turned-lawmaker affirmed his absolute allegiance to his current alignment, regardless of how the leadership dispute resolves itself.
“Minority, come what may!” Tulfo said.