Erwin Tulfo: Why didn't the 18 ex-Marines mention Loren Legarda, Mark Villar in hearing?

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Thursday asked why the 18 supposed ex-members of the Philippine Marines skipped mentioning Senators Loren Legarda and Mark Villar in their testimony during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control mess – even they were previously mentioned in the ex-Marines’ affidavits.

In Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras,” Tulfo – the chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon panel under the group of Senate Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian – raised the question of why his two colleagues were not mentioned by the ex-Marines during the hearing.

He said only he and Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto II were mentioned by the ex-Marines as having allegedly received suitcases of cash, but Legarda and Villar were not – even if their names were in the ex-Marines’ affidavits.

Both Tulfo and Sotto have denied the allegations.

Tulfo called the hearing held by the other Senate Blue Ribbon panel – which was presided by Senator Pia Cayetano – as a “one-sided” hearing.

He said he will also summon the same ex-Marines to his panel’s hearing on Monday, June 8, 2026.

“Kailangan po kasi baka kami, sabihin ng tao, kaya nagtatago tayo, kinatatakutan natin. Eh tatanungin ko lamang po anong dahilan, ‘yung mga hindi po natanong ni Senator [Rodante] Marcoleta itatanong ko,” he said.

(We have to, because the people might say, we are hiding, we are afraid of something. What I will ask is, what is the reason. The questions that were not asked by Senator Marcoleta, I will ask them.)

“Saka itatanong ko, ipapaalala ko po sa kanila, bakit nawala na ‘yung pangalan ng mga kasama ko naman, sila Senadora Loren at Senador Mark, ba’t wala?” Tulfo added.

(And I will ask them. I will remind the public. Why were the names of my colleagues – Senator Loren and Senator Mark – not included?)

GMA News is currently reaching out to Legarda and Villar for their comments.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was also questioned earlier why the affidavit skipped details regarding the former soldiers’ alleged delivery of cash-filled suitcases to Legarda’s home in Makati City back in 2024, and to Villar’s residence in Las Piñas City in 2022. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA News