MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial aspirant Raffy Tulfo on Monday bared discussions with the camps of presidential aspirants Vice President Leni Robredo and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. regarding his possible inclusion in their respective Senate slates.
“Meron nang ginagawang paguusap sa pagitan ng grupo ko at grupo ni Vice President Leni Robredo (There are ongoing discussions between my group and the group of),” Tulfo said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if Robredo’s camp has spoken to him.
Tulfo also said that he has been asked by the camp of Marcos to join the latter’s senatorial ticket in 2022.
But Tulfo said discussions are still ongoing.
“Yes, [I] talked to him…,” he said.
“Pinaguusapan pa yan ng grupo ko at ng grupo niya (My group and his group are still discussing that),” he added, when asked if he will accept the invitation.
“Meron lang mga konting bagay-bagay na mukhang hindi pa muna kayang maging guest candidate ako for one reason or another,” he said.
(There are just some issues that seem to affect my inclusion among his guest candidates for one reason or another.)
Tulfo said he remains open to be part of the senatorial slate of any presidential candidate or political party as long as their platforms are aligned with his.
“As long as it doesn’t affect my being independent, I’ll accept an invitation from any group, any party. As long as meron at least isa o dalawa doon sa kanilang plataporma na tumutugma sa plataporma ko, why not? Yan ang tinatawag na total independence,” he said.
(As long as there are one or two things under their platform that are aligned with my own platform, why not? That is what we call total independence.)
He was particularly asked about the presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.
“It’s OK. Pwede rin ako doon. Kaya lang kung minsan may mga patakaran sila na mukhang hindi sumasangayon sa patakaran ko,” Tulfo said.
(It’s OK. I can also join. But sometimes they have their own rules that do not seem to line up with my own.)
He is also open to being adopted by PDP-Laban’s Cusi wing, which fielded Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as its standard bearer.
“Why not? Pero again, pagaaralan ko muna kung anong plataporma meron sila. Meron ba doon na tumutugma sa adbokasiya ko? If no, then no. If yes, why not?” Tulfo said.
(Why not? But again, I will still have to study the platform that they have. Is there anything that would match with my advocacy? If no, then no. If yes, why not?)
So far, Tulfo is among the guest senatorial candidates of presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao.