Senate President Zubiri: “He (Erwin Tulfo) will be bypassed this coming month”
ZUBIRI – Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said that the Commission on Appointments (CA) will bypass Erwin Tulfo’s appointment as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
On Monday, Zubiri said in an interview with reporters that Erwin Tulfo would need to be reappointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as CA will bypass his appointment as DSWD Secretary for the second time.
“He will be bypassed this coming month and then he’ll have to be reappointed by the President shortly after that,” he said.
According to a report, the Commission on Appointments can’t tackle and hold plenary sessions while the sessions in Congress are adjourned. Sessions in the House of Representatives and the Senate will be adjourned from December 17, 2022 to January 22,2023.
In was last November when a CA panel deferred the deliberations on the ad interim appointment of Erwin Tulfo as they raised the issues on the latter’s conviction on four counts of libel and his American citizenship.
READ ALSO: Jay Sonza Calls Erwin Tulfo “Mang Kanor”
The Senate President disclosed that the Commission on Appointments has invited incumbent and retired justices in order to provide opinion on Erwin Tulfo’s citizenship and conviction.
On the citizenship issue, the Senate President said that Erwin Tulfo confirmed he’s using an American passport until 2021. He added that Erwin Tulfo would need to show the CA panel additional documents such as a certification that he’s no longer an American citizen.
Zubiri, meanwhile, said that Erwin Tulfo’s conviction is being weighed in as libel is considered a crime involving moral turpitude.
He was also asked if the issue on moral turpitude can be applied to appointed government officials. According to him, the rule is applied whether an individual is appointed or elected.
The Senate President also said that he personally likes Erwin Tulfo to head the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but they have to follow their constitutional mandate.
Thank you for visiting Newspapers.ph. You may express your reactions or thoughts in the comments section. Also, you may follow us on Facebook as well.
