Sen. Raffy Tulfo, chairperson of the Committee on Energy questions San Fernando Electric Light and Power Company (SFELAPCO) officials for reportedly violating its power supply agreement (PSA) during the committee hearing Monday, March 20, 2023. Joseph Vidal, Senate PRIB/File

MANILA -- A visibly irked Senator Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday walked out of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing, which centered on the allegedly questionable police arrest of a father-and-son and the separate disappearance of aspiring beauty queen Catherine Camilon.

Tulfo cut short the discussion while panel chairman, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was asking the Bulacan policemen about the circumstances.

“Aalis na lang ako dito. Hindi ko matiis. Nakikita ko, itong mga pulis, pinagloloko (tayo). I’m sorry, I have to walkout. Hindi ko kaya to,” Tullfo said, and immediately stood up and left the hearing venue.

(I will just leave this hearing. I cannot take it. I can see that these cops are fooling us. I’m sorry, I have to walkout. I cannot take this.)

Before the walkout, Tulfo also slammed the policemen being linked to the supposed illegal arrest of a father and son in the Rodelio Vicente case who, in the previous hearing, reluctantly agreed to undergo the lie detector test.

“Dito ipapakita ko sa 'yo, Mr. Chairman, na wala silang respeto sa'yo bilang dating PNP Chief, at bilang chairman ng committee na ito, at walang respeto itong tatlo sa Senado...These two (three) policemen were asked if they were willing to undergo the lie detector test... pumayag sila... Itong tatlong ito umatras,” Tulfo told the committee.

(I will show you here Mr. Chairman that these cops do not respect you as former PNP Chief, as chairman of this committee, and these three policemen do not respect the Senate. These three policemen were asked if they were willing to undergo the lie detector test. They agreed, only to back out later)

The three policemen should be cited in contempt, Tulfo said.

Tulfo was further irked by the contradicting answers of the Pandi Provincial Police officer and the police personnel on whether the Vicentes are facing arrest warrants.

The contradicting answers led to his walkout.

Later in the hearing, Padilla moved to cite in contempt Police Major Allan de Castro, who is a suspect in Camilon’s disappearance, for reportedly “lying” while testifying before the panel.

De Castro insisted he did not have a relationship with Camilon, despite the evidence presented by Camilon's family and investigators.

READ: Senate panel to subpoena ex-cop, driver in Camilon disappearance case

READ: Police major in Catherine Camilon case skips Senate probe

"Kasi ang ayaw namin dito, kung sino ang taong maliit, 'yan ang napapahamak. 'Yan ang laging ganyan sa atin, laging may fall guy. Kawawa naman," Padilla said.

(Because what we do not want here are plain citizens facing danger. There’s always a fall guy here. We should pity them.)

"Minumungkahi ko po sa ating komite na ma-cite in contempt si G. de Castro. I so move," Padilla said.

(I recommend that we cite Mister De Castro in contempt. So I move.)

Dela Rosa approved the motion citing De Castro in contempt "for lying before this committee." He ordered that de Castro be taken into custody.

A former PNP Chief, Dela Rosa maintained that he has been trying to be fair whenever he conducts a hearing.

“The worse thing na sabihin sa akin, bine-baby ko kayo... Ay hindi ko matanggap-tanggap yan. What’s the use of this committee kung i-baby ko kayo? For the record, wala naman sigurong makapagsabi dyan na, sino ang pinakamaraming na-contempt na pulis dyan sa Senado?” he asked.

(The worse thing for one to them me is that I treat you policemen like a baby. That is unacceptable to me. What’s the use of this committee if I will baby you? For the record, who has the most number of police who were cited in contempt?)

He also expressed his disappointed about Tulfo’s walk out.

“Pag kayo naman ay tama, bakit naman tayo papayag na wawalangyain kayo. Fair lang tayo dito... Bakit naman wawalang-hiyain yung pulis kung hindi dapat walanghiyain... The most insulting action is for that kasama mo dito magwa-walk out, walkoutan ka,” Dela Rosa said.

(If you are right, why will I allow you to be besmirched? We are only fair here. The most insulting action is for your colleague to walk out)

“Anyway, that’s his prerogative. Kung ayaw na niyang makinig sa hearing, nandyan na 'yan. Ako naman I am trying to be fair here. Wala akong, hindi ako wala akong bias dito. Kahit sabihin niyong dati akong PNP chief ang dami nang pulis minalas sa akin,” he added.

(Anyway, that’s his (Tulfo) prerogative. If he does not want to listen. But me, I’m trying to be fair here. I have no bias. Even if you’ll say that I was a PNP Chief, a lot of cops faced misfortune because of me.)

READ: Cop tagged in Catherine Camilon case can't leave Philippines --CIDG

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