Tulfo walks out over cops' testimonies, Bato says move 'insulting'

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday walked out of a hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs over what he called inconsistencies in the testimonies of resource persons from the Philippine National Police.

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, the chairman of the Senate committee and a former chief of the PNP, called the move "insulting."

The walkout happened during the committee's hearing on the case of a father and son who were allegedly taken into custody by Bulacan policemen without any warrant of arrest.

“Pag pulis ang may kasalanan bine-baby-baby Pero kapag ordinaryong, maliliit na mamamyan natin agad na nakukulong, pag minalas-mals sinasalvage pa. Bakit ganito ang hustisya sa atin, kapag pulis, nagtatakipan, nakakalusot,” Tulfo said during the hearing.

(Police are treated like babies when they are involved in a case. Ordinary citizens, on the other hand, are detained or worse killed. Why is our justice system like this? When cops are involved, there's a cover-up and they go scot-free?)

Bulacan PNP Provincial Director Police Coloner Relly Arnedo said the policemen involved didn't have a warrant at that time because they were conducting a covert intelligence operation.

This went against the statement of Police Corporal Michael Rey Bernardo who said the warrant was only in his pocket.

“Mr. Chair, aalis na lang ako dito. Hindi ko matiis, nakikita ko, na parang itong mga pulis pinagloloko... I’m sorry, hindi ko kaya ‘to,” Tulfo said before leaving the hearing.

(Mr. Chair, I'll just leave. I can no longer take this, seeing that these policemen are making fools... I'm sorry, I can't take this.)

Dela Rosa told the policemen that they should have explained more clearly their position.

He denied treating anybody with kid gloves.

“The worst thing na sabihin sa akin bine-baby ko kayo ay hindi ko matanggap tanggap yan. What’s the use of me being the Chairman of this Committee, kung i-baby ko kayo?” Dela Rosa said.

He said the records would show that he was the senator who had detained the most number of police officers in the Senate.

“Wala akong pinapaburan dito. The most insulting action is for that kasama mo dito magwo-walk out, wo-walk-outan ka,” Bato added.

(I'm not favoring anyone here. The most insulting action is when a colleague walks out on you.)

Tulfo in a statement said that what the police officers did at the hearing was unacceptable. 

“Kapansin-pansin ang inconsistencies at papalitpalit na sagot ng mga pulis patungkol sa warrant of arrest na dinala umano nila noong pinasok ang bahay nila Mang Rodelio noong August 12,” Tulfo said.

“Nakita natin na tadtad ng bakas ng pagsisinungaling ang mga pahayag ng mga pulis ukol sa pagse-serve nila ng warrant of arrest at wala nang patutunguhan kung ipagpatuloy ko pa ang pagtatanong dahil magsisinungaling din naman sila. Kaya minarapat ko na lamang na umalis at tapusin na ang aking pagtatanong sa naturang hearing,” he added.

Tulfo further said that as long as the police are not telling the truth, the victims will not get the justice they are fighting for. —NB, GMA Integrated News