Senator Erwin Tulfo Embraces New Senate Challenges
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Erwin Tulfo is preparing to navigate the complexities of the Senate by seeking guidance from seasoned lawmakers. As he steps into his role on June 30, he recognizes that the Senate presents a unique challenge compared to his previous experience in the House of Representatives.
Although Tulfo has legislative experience as a representative of the ACT-CIS Party-list, he admits the Senate is a “different ball game.” He shared, “I don’t want to look stupid,” in Filipino during a recent interview, emphasizing his desire to avoid speaking without full understanding.
Learning the Senate Landscape
He acknowledged that speaking without adequate knowledge risks being called out by senior lawmakers. “You keep talking and you don’t even know what you’re saying. We might get called out by senior lawmakers: ‘Be quiet—you don’t know what you’re talking about.’ I still have a lot to learn,” Tulfo added.
When asked about the Senate impeachment court’s decision to return the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House, Tulfo refrained from commenting due to his limited knowledge of the procedures involved.
Seeking Guidance from Experienced Senators
To better prepare, Tulfo is consulting his brother, Senator Raffy Tulfo, along with former senators Orlando Mercado, Franklin Drilon, and outgoing Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. He explained, “To get pointers so I don’t look stupid. Yes, I have experience in Congress, but the Senate is a different ball game. I want to learn.”
Commitment to Performance and Representation
Tulfo is determined to make a meaningful impact. He aspires to be remembered as a senator who delivered results, rather than one who remained silent or failed to pass legislation. “I want to be a senator of everybody,” he said.
Despite ranking fourth with over 17 million votes in the recent elections, he still wonders why some voters did not support him. Reflecting on this, he asked, “Is it because they don’t trust me? Is it because they think I’m biased? Those are the questions that linger in my mind every day. Why didn’t they vote for me? What was I lacking?”
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