‘Magpa-lie detector test tayo’: Tulfo, Villar in heated exchange at DENR’s budget hearing | ABS-CBN

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‘Magpa-lie detector test tayo’: Tulfo, Villar in heated exchange at DENR’s budget hearing

‘Magpa-lie detector test tayo’: Tulfo, Villar in heated exchange at DENR’s budget hearing

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Nov 19, 2024 11:41 PM PHT

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Senators Raffy Tulfo and Cynthia Villar. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/Bibo Nueva España, Senate PRIB

MANILA — Senators Raffy Tulfo and Cynthia Villar figured in a heated exchange during the environment department’s budget hearing on Tuesday due to issues on the Masungi Georeserve. 

Tulfo was grilling the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) over the attendance of two individuals who he described as “quarriers” during an agency event in Rizal for Project TRANSFORM. 

The senator noted that these two individuals were present while people from Masungi Georeserve were supposedly not invited. 

“Ang imbitado lamang ay yung dalawang personality na binanggit ko na mayroong problema sa DENR, na mismong nag-cancel ng kanilang permit noong 2022,” said Tulfo. 

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Villar said Masungi representatives were invited but did not come to the event, where indigenous peoples' groups were also present. 

The two senators then discussed the DENR’s possible cancellation of a pact with the Masungi Georeserve for the conservation of 2,700 hectares of forested land in Rizal province.

“You have to go back to the history, they did not build socialized housing, they built a resort and that is not the original intention of the Masungi Georeserve,” said Villar. 

“In fairness to our government officials, they cannot allow something illegal because they have to answer for it in the future,” she added. 

This was when Villar insisted to Tulfo that Masungi officers were invited to the event but they did not come. Tulfo disputed this. 

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“We talked to Masungi. Would you like us to bring Masungi here or even make a phone call? Tawagan niyo ang Masungi,” said Tulfo.

“Can somebody call Masungi right here, right now. Sabihin niyo sino ang nagsinungaling: DENR o Masungi?” he added. 

The senator challenged the DENR and Villar that all of them should take a lie detector test. 

“Kung gusto niyo magpa-lie detector test, polygraph test para magkaalaman sino ang sinungaling,” said Tulfo. 

A calm Villar repeated that Masungi was invited through Masungi Rock Agency Council but Tulfo said the DENR should show proof of a letter. 

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“We will provide you the invitation to the council in which Masungi Georeserve is a member,” said Villar. 

She added that the DENR has a copy of the letter but its representatives did not have it with them. The agency promised to provide the letter to Tulfo.

In a social media post, the Masungi Georeserve said it did not receive any invitation. 

“For the record, the Masungi Georeserve Foundation was never invited to any meeting of PROJECT TRANSFORM,” it said.

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