Former TV5ers Tulfo, Sta. Maria reunite on BNC’s ‘The Spokes’

It was a reunion of sorts for two former TV5 talents as Senator Erwin Tulfo and Atty. Mel Sta. Maria joined the roundtable discussion on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s The Spokes last Friday.

Joining hosts Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, who served as presidential spokesperson for the Marcos administration during its first three months, and Atty. Barry Gutierrez, longtime spokesperson of former Vice President Leni Robredo, the two former Kapatid personalities tackled the power shakeup in the Senate.

Tulfo, during his time at TV5, was among the network’s lead anchors, fronting its now-defunct flagship newscast Aksyon, while also co-hosting the public service program T3 alongside his brothers Ben and Raffy, who is also now a lawmaker.

Sta. Maria, who has been hosting his own webshow on since 2018, was TV5’s resident legal analyst and also co-hosted Radyo5’s Relasyon, and at one point, its morning program Aksyon sa Umaga.

They would later work together in covering special events, including the network’s 2013 and 2016 election coverage.

On the developments that happened last June 3, where 12 senators were able to form what was described as a valid quorum, Tulfo explained: “Sabi po sa rules natin, even in the Constitution, you need thirteen, hindi po ba? Kaya po dineclare ni Senator Sotto na all seats are vacant, pati po ‘yung Senate presidency, vacant po ‘yun dahil may po quorum po kami, there’s 12 of us, di po ba 11, Solid Block 11, lumipat po si Chiz that day, so 12. Sila po naging 10.”

Senator Chiz Escudero made a surprise appearance that day, to the shock of many, bringing the number of senators physically present to 12.

“Kaya according to our rules po, you can do that, you can declare all seats vacant and appoint, except for the Senate presidency because in the Constitution you need 13, pero you can elect the Senate pro-tempore pababa, majority leader and committee chairmanship,” he said.

Sta. Maria seconded Tulfo and further explained the legal basis for the legitimacy of the June 3 developments, including the subsequent reorganization of Senate leadership.

“Alam mo what we witnessed last June 3 was that the system worked. Diba there was a faction that tried to weaponize the quorum requirement, to paralyze the session, walang mangyayari. So the system worked, ‘yung minority gumalaw, and then made this June 3 a change in leadership, declaring all positions vacant,” he said.

For Sta. Maria, the legitimacy of the new majority and the resulting leadership changes rests on three elements: jurisprudence, citing Avelino v. Cuenco and Pendatun v. Osmeña; recognition by the executive department; and the fact that Sen. Sotto and members of the new majority acted on the Senate plenary floor.

Watch the video below: