SEN. Erwin Tulfo on Sunday urged fellow senators to unite anew amid the power struggle in the Senate, saying the nation’s problems transcend political colors.
Tulfo said leadership must transcend political lines to address the country’s woes as prices of prime commodities continue to rise.
“There is no color in experiencing hunger, inaccessible health care, and poverty. We are on the same boat, whatever side you support,” he said in a radio interview.
“We are all Filipinos. We have the same problem. Do we really think that supporters of a certain group benefit from lower prices? Definitely not. We buy the same goods and gasoline. So if the boat sinks, we all sink,” he said.
In political circles, red is associated with the Marcos loyalists, while green represents Duterte supporters.
Yellow is identified with the Aquino family, while pink is linked to the supporters of former vice president and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo.
Tulfo said, “Marcos loyalists, Duterte supporters, and Leni followers experience same problems on skyrocketing prices, medical care, education, and others.”
He reiterated his appeal for the Senate to focus on its legislative mandate. “Let us not look at colors anymore because we have the same problems. We must proceed to working together if we really love our countrymen.”
“Let us craft laws, investigate irregularities without fear, and prioritize the welfare of every Filipino. Unity does not mean backing down; it’s a show of force to protect the people,” Tulfo said.
“How do we resolve high prices of goods and low income? It is not anymore about supporting sides because all of us experience this brunt of difficulty in accessing even basic goods,” he said.
Tulfo said that in times of economic crisis, the country’s leaders should be the ones fostering solidarity, rather than inciting division.
“Let us stop this division. The more we keep on talking about this situation, we further divide not only the chamber, but the people,” he said.
