Gwen slams Raffy Tulfo: 'You are not above the law'

Local

“BEING [a] senator of the land does not make you above the law.”

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said this on Wednesday, April 16, as she blasted Sen. Raffy Tulfo for his surprise inspection of the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT) and his “harsh” treatment of terminal workers, which she described as both “disrespectful” and “uninformed.”

In a media interview, Garcia said Tulfo’s conduct during his April 4 visit to CNBT, where he publicly scolded a female employee and criticized terminal conditions, was unbecoming of a public servant and lacked proper coordination with local authorities.

“It does not give you license to just barge in with little knowledge about what the situation is—worse, with little knowledge of the law,” Garcia said.

She reacted to Tulfo’s viral video where he threatened to have a terminal worker removed for charging a P10 restroom fee.

“You don’t treat ordinary people like that—whether a bus driver or a mere cashier who doesn’t even dictate policies…Wa mo naluoy atong driver? And the employee that was manning the CRs when we go to the north?” she added.

Garcia emphasized that she would never reprimand rank-and-file employees in public.

“Mga empleyado lang intawon nga nanginabuhi ra na, sweldado ra na sila,” she said.

She then raised questions about Tulfo’s capability to effectively lead the Senate committee on transportation, saying his actions have only antagonized local agencies, including the Capitol.

“Maybe he can do that to get media mileage, but will he be effective as transportation committee chair? Well, he has already, diri sa Cebu, antagonized our agencies—including me,” Garcia said.

On April 10, Garcia had already addressed the issues Tulfo raised—defective buses, lack of ventilation, absence of pushcarts, and the restroom fee—stating that many of these matters were outside the Capitol’s jurisdiction.

Concerns on bus safety, she explained, fall under the purview of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

As for the P10 fee, Garcia defended the Capitol’s partnership with Mister Loo Philippines, the operator of the premium restrooms, noting that it was developed at no cost to the government through a public-private agreement.

The facility offers clean, well-maintained restrooms and even shower options, charging P10 and P20, respectively.

“There is nothing illegal about offering a separate, premium restroom for a reasonable fee,” said Capitol legal consultant Atty. Rory Jon Sepulveda.

He cited Republic Act 11311, which only prohibits charging for the use of regular sanitary facilities—not commercial premium toilets like Mister Loo.

Garcia added that those unwilling to pay can freely use the SM City Cebu restrooms just a few steps away, which are part of the same complex where CNBT operates under a usufruct agreement.

Garcia also dismissed Tulfo’s complaints about the lack of fans and pushcarts. The terminal, she said, is open-air and already equipped with electric fans as a courtesy to passengers.

“Passenger bus terminal man na. Unsa may pushcart buot niya gipasabot?” she said.

She added that the terminal doesn’t serve as a commercial hub for goods that would require carts.

The CNBT, relocated to the SM City Cebu parking area in 2020 after the Capitol lost access to the old site in Mandaue, operates with limitations as it sits on private land. Garcia said any further expansion or structural improvements must be coordinated with the mall owner.

Following Tulfo’s viral inspection, the LTFRB-7 conducted its own investigation and issued notices to five bus operators for various violations, including worn-out tires, defective windows, and missing fire extinguishers.

LTFRB-7 Transportation Development Officer Eugenio Ibo Jr. said these inspections are part of regular oversight and not a direct response to Tulfo’s visit. He confirmed that non-compliant operators may face sanctions, including suspension of franchises.

Garcia said the senator’s behavior not only undermined the dignity of terminal workers but also drew concern from northern Cebu mayors, who felt bypassed and disrespected by Tulfo’s unannounced visit.

Andreas Wanner, the Swiss co-founder of Mister Loo, also flew in to join Garcia in a press briefing on April 10, defending the company’s operations and expressing worry about the senator’s threats.

“Observe, clarify, investigate—that’s the proper way,” Wanner said.

Garcia, for her part, said the Capitol welcomes constructive criticism, but not at the expense of decency, fairness, and respect.

“We are public officials. We have responsibilities to conduct ourselves in the proper manner,” she said.(TGP)