MANILA, Philippines — The alleged inconsistencies of policemen during a Senate hearing on Tuesday forced Senator Raffy Tulfo to walk out of the proceeding.
But Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa found this action “insulting.”
“The most insulting action is for that kasama mo dito magwo-walk out, wo-walk-outan ka,” said dela Rosa, who was presiding over the hearing as chairman of the Senate committee on public order.
(The most insulting action is for your colleague here to walk out on you, leaving you behind.)
“Anyway, that’s his prerogative. Kung ayaw na n’yang makinig sa hearing, kanya na ‘yan. Ako naman I am trying to be fair here. Wala akong bias dito. Kahit sabihin nyo dati akong chief PNP (Philippine National Police), ang dami nang pulis minalas sakin,” he added.
(Anyway, that’s his prerogative. If he doesn’t want to listen to the hearing anymore, that’s up to him. As for me, I am trying to be fair here. I don’t have any bias here. Even if you say I used to be the chief of the PNP, I have many police officers already disappointed in me.)
His committee was investigating the case of Rodelio Vicente, and his son, Julius, who were allegedly taken into custody by Bulacan policemen last year without any warrant of arrest.
The police were reportedly conducting a manhunt for an alias “Elmer” on August 12, 2023, when they entered the property of Rodelio Vicente.
Tulfo, however, questioned why the policemen were wearing bonnets, instead of uniform, during the operation.
He also fumed at the inconsistent answers given by some resource persons when he asked if the Bulacan police had a warrant of arrest during the operation.
“Mr. Chair, aalis na lang ako rito. Hindi ko matiis, nakikita ko na parang itong mga pulis, pinagloloko…I’m sorry, I have to walk out hindi ko kaya ito,” Tulfo said.
(Mr. Chair, I’m just going to leave. I can’t stand it anymore. It seems like these police officers are fooling around… I’m sorry, I have to walk out, I can’t handle this.)
Dela Rosa, along with Senator Robin Padilla, proceeded with the hearing.
Later in the hearing, dela Rosa reiterated that he was not treating anyone in the hearing like a baby.
READ: Dela Rosa dismisses claim he will favor cops if Jolo incident is investigated
This was an apparent response to Tulfo’s earlier remark in the hearing.
“Sorry po, dun pa lang nagkaroon ng inconsistencies. Parang nabe-baby ito eh. The way I look at it, parang na ba-baby na naman ito,” Tulfo said.
(I’m sorry, but there were inconsistencies right from the start. It’s like we’re treating this like a baby. The way I see it, it’s being babied again.)
Dela Rosa found this accusation “unacceptable.”
“The worst thing na sabihin sa akin bene-beybi ko kayo at hindi ko matangap-tanggap ‘yan na beneybeybi. What’s the use of me being the chairman of this committee kung ibe-baby ko kayo?” he said.
(The worst thing for me is to be told that I’m babying you, and I cannot accept that. What’s the use of me being the chairman of this committee if I’m just going to treat you like a baby?)
He said records will show that he has sent the most number of police officers to Senate detention.
After the hearing, dela Rosa clarified in a text message that he and Tulfo already talked. He said he even apologized to Tulfo “for not measuring up to his standards.”