Broadcaster Raffy Tulfo said he was not keen on leading the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is tasked to investigate corruption in the government, should he win in the May 9 elections, even as it aligns with his advocacy on TV as the court of last resort for the Filipino everyman.
Tulfo told Boy Abunda in an interview uploaded on YouTube on Monday that many of his friends have been telling him to take the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon panel, currently headed by reelectionist Sen. Richard Gordon.
Tulfo became a household name for headlining the YouTube channel "Raffy Tulfo in Action" as well as the public service TV program "Idol in Action", which he left before filing his certificate of candidacy for senator last year.
"'Kunin mo ito, kunin mo yan, o maging vice chairman ka ng Blue Ribbon.' Sabi ko 'no, that's too big of a responsibility, although kahawig yan sa mga ginagawa ko ngayon sa radyo,'" he said.
"Kahawig talaga. 'Nag-iimbestiga ka, magaling kang mag-imbestiga, magaling kang mag-push doon sa mga nirereklamo hanggang sa mapaamin mo. So why not get that position?' Sabi ko 'no,'" he added.
Tulfo said he would rather be a part of the Senate committees on labor or on overseas Filipino workers, citing his experience dealing with migrant workers and employees victimized by their unjust employers.
The 62-year-old broadcaster is the frontrunner in pre-election surveys. As early as now, he said he was being briefed by his lawyers on the workings of a senator.
"They give me advice, they tell me na ito yung paghahandaan mo, ito yung mangyayari, ito yung mga pwede mong gawin, ito yung hindi mo pwedeng gawin. So nabi-brief na nila ako," Tulfo said.
Tulfo added that if he gets elected as senator, he is ready to work with opposition figures.
"Opposition is part of the democratic process. Kailangan natin ang opposition to do the check and balance," he said.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recently made headlines for spearheading the investigation on the allegedly anomalous government contracts with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. and other firms to provide COVID-19 supplies to the government.
Although running as an independent, Tulfo is being endorsed by presidential candidates Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao.
ALSO READ:
Why Raffy Tulfo Means Justice for the Filipino Everyman
Why 'Raffy Tulfo in Action' and 'Wowowin' are Powerful Vehicles for a Senate Run
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