Senators Tito Sotto and Erwin Tulfo have denied allegations that they received suitcases filled with cash allegedly from flood control projects, following claims made during a Senate hearing on Thursday, June 4.
The allegations surfaced during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday, June 4, on the alleged flood control scandal led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
According to a report by RH Raymund Dadpaas, the 18 supposed former Marines who testified before the committee claimed they had delivered suitcases containing money to Sotto's office in Baclaran and to Tulfo's residence in Greenhills.
Sotto dismissed the accusations, pointing out that he was not a senator from 2022 to 2025, the period covered by the investigation into the flood control projects.
He also questioned testimony that mentioned his executive assistant, Mark, noting that the aide had passed away in 2015.
Sotto described the ongoing inquiry as a "bogus investigation in aid of destabilization" and criticized the Blue Ribbon Committee, currently chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano.
Tulfo likewise rejected the allegations, questioning why his name was being linked to the controversy. He argued that he had no allocable funds related to flood control projects during his time as a legislator.
The senator issued his denial after the hearing, describing the accusations made by Bernard Gumban, one of the individuals identified as among the 18 former Marines, as false.
"Malaking kasinungalingan ang mga naging paratang ni Bernard Gumban, isa sa mga nagpakilalang 18 Ex-Marines, sa ginaganap na Bogus Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing," Tulfo said.
He pointed to inconsistencies in Gumban's statements, noting that the witness claimed in a sworn affidavit that six medium-sized suitcases of money were delivered to him, but later testified during the hearing that both two and six suitcases were involved.
Tulfo also questioned discrepancies regarding the alleged amounts contained in the suitcases.
“Sa sobrang daming kasinungalingan, siya mismo ay litong-lito,” he said.
The senator added, “Pati sa halaga ng diumano’y nilalaman ng mga maleta, nagkagulo-gulo na.”
“Sabi dati, kapag small, 15 to 25 million ang laman, tapos ngayon, 20-25 million. Samantalang sa medium, 30 to 40 million sa affidavit, tapos 40-50 million naman ngayon. Ano ba talaga?” said the senator.
The senator further observed that only certain names were highlighted during the proceedings despite earlier affidavits allegedly mentioning several other individuals.
"Ito ba ang sinasabi nilang impartial investigation? Kapag kaalyado ligtas ka, kapag tagapagtuligsa, delikado ka?" Tulfo said.
He described the allegations as a deliberate effort to damage his reputation.
"Hindi na ito isang simpleng imbestigasyon, ito ay isang malinaw at planadong propaganda laban sa aking pagkatao at reputasyon. Walang puwang sa Senado ang mga fake news at trolls. Sana nag-FB Live na lang kayo," he added.
Tulfo also expressed surprise that only he and Sotto were specifically mentioned during the hearing, noting that both are now part of the new majority bloc in the Senate.
He pointed out that previous affidavits had also mentioned the names of Senators Mark Villar, Camille Villar, and Loren Legarda.
