Sotto, Erwin Tulfo deny 'ex-Marines' claims of cash deliveries

Senators Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo on Thursday denied receiving suitcases full of cash kickbacks off anomalous flood control projects, as alleged by individuals who identify themselves as former Marines and soldiers.

A certain Benny Bulontante told the Cayetano bloc-led Senate Blue Ribbon committee that he was among those ordered to proceed to a building in Baclaran allegedly associated with Sotto before the arrival of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, a key figure in the multi-billion peso flood control scandal.

He also claimed that five large suitcases were brought to the location around 2024, before the election campaign period began.

For his part, Sotto shrugged off the accusation as he was not a senator from 2022 to 2025. He added that the person who allegedly received the supposed suitcases died in 2015.

"I will not dignify such [claims] because I was not a senator from 2022 to 2025. The name they mentioned na EA ko daw na tumanggap ay is Mark (The name they mentioned as my EA who supposedly received the money is Mark). Mark died in 2015," he said in a statement.

"Ayoko nang patulan mga lumang tugtuging kasinungalingan nila. I'll just see them in court," he added.

(I don't want to dignify their same old lies. I'll just see them in court.)

Sotto also called the hearing "a bogus investigation in aid of destabilisation."

Meanwhile, one of the supposed ex-Marines, Bernard Gumban, claimed that he personally participated in two deliveries allegedly intended for Tulfo.

He claimed that the first delivery involved two suitcases—one small and one medium-sized—while the second involved six suitcases of varying sizes. Gumban also claimed the deliveries were made to a residence in Greenhills.

'Confused'

Tulfo, who is the Blue Ribbon Committee chair with the Gatchalian bloc, denied the allegations, saying even his accuser was confused with the details.

"Una, sabi niya sa kanyang naunang sinumpaang salaysay, nag-deliver raw siya sa akin ng anim na medium-sized na maleta. Ngunit, galing na mismo sa kanyang bibig kanina na dalawa (2) at anim (6) na maleta ang kanyang idinedeklara," he said.

(First, he said in his previous sworn statement that he allegedly delivered six medium-sized suitcases to me. But, it came straight from his own mouth earlier that he is declaring two (2) and six (6) suitcases.)

"Pangalawa, 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?" he added.

(Second, even regarding the amount of the alleged contents of the suitcases, THEY GOT ALL CONFUSED. It was previously said that if it's small, it contains 15 to 25 million, but now, it's 20-25 million. Meanwhile, for the medium, it was 30 to 40 million in the affidavit, but now it's 40-50 million. WHICH ONE IS IT, REALLY?)

The senator said the accusers only picked the names they mentioned.

He added that what happened was not an investigation but merely propaganda against him.

"Walang puwang sa Senado ang mga fake news at trolls. Sana nag-FB Live na lang kayo. Magkita-kita tayo sa lehitimong Blue Ribbon committee hearing," Tulfo said.

(Fake news and trolls have no place in the Senate. You should have just gone on Facebook Live. Let's see each other at the legitimate Blue Ribbon committee hearing.)

The men who claimed to be former Marines also dragged other lawmakers from the House of Representatives including Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, ML Party-list Representative Leila de Lima, and former congresswoman France Castro.

Romualdez had denied receiving suitcases of money. He also said that he "never received or benefited from kickbacks in any infrastructure project." He added that he did not authorize anyone to engage in dealings that would taint his name.

De Lima earlier denied the accusations and even filed a complaint against the 18 personalities and their lawyer, Atty. Levito Baligod.

In a joint press statement, former congressmen Castro, Raoul Manuel, and Arlene Brosas denounced the allegations, saying these were baseless and malicious claims and a desperate act of political demolition.

According to a report on 24 Oras, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV denied claims by the supposed former Marines that he received cash from Co for delivery to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC is set to conduct the trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte in November over charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his drug war.

Trillanes said the ICC had already stated that it does not receive money from any party with regard to cases connected to the Philippines.

The 24 Oras report quoted Trillanes as saying that he would file a case because of the alleged former Marines' claims. — VDV, GMA News