Erwin Tulfo files libel complaints vs 3 of 18 ex-soldiers
Sen. Erwin Tulfo has filed libel charges against some of the 18 former soldiers who linked him to an alleged kickback scheme and human trafficking activities.
"Nag-file kami ngayon lang ng grave oral defamation in relation to cybercrime doon sa mga pinagsasabi po nina Gumban, Waupan, and then Bulontate na 'yung sa maleta at [human] trafficking," the senator told reporters on June 8.
"Hindi na ho natin pinalagpas dahil kalokohan naman po 'yung sinasabing kasuningalingan. Kailangan po nila sagutin sa korte ['yung] mga paratang nila sa atin."
Tulfo added that the allegations against him by the alleged bagmen have changed during the June 4 Blue Ribbon Committee hearing led by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
"Dati, ilang maleta lang, ngayon naging walong maleta na... Nakakalungkot, pinagtatanggalan naman nila 'yung listahan, nagbabawas sila ng tao. Talagang nakikita mo na gawa-gawa lang nila etong accusations nila," Tulfo said.
Tulfo, in a previous interview with ANC, questioned why names like senators Loren Legarda, Mark Villar, and Camille Villar were no longer mentioned by the alleged bagmen. "Nabanggit kasi nila noong una eh."
Tulfo, the Gatchalian bloc's Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson, and Sotto were tagged by the 18 former soldiers as among the lawmakers who allegedly received suitcases of cash from resigned congressman Zaldy Co. Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, and former lawmakers Raoul Manuel, France Castro, Arlene Brosas, and Antonio Trillanes IV were also accused during the Marcoleta-led hearing.
Alleged former Marine Bernard Guman claims that he delivered six suitcases to Tulfo's Greenhills residence. The senator previously denied the allegations.
“Malaking kasinungalingan ang mga naging paratang ni Bernard Gumban, isa sa mga nagpakilalang 18 ex-Marines, sa ginaganap na bogus Blue Ribbon Hearing. Sa sobrang daming kasinungalingan, siya mismo ay litong-lito,” he said in a statement.
Apart from Tulfo, Trillanes, de Lima, and more have filed libel and perjury complaints before the Department of Justice against the 18 former soldiers.
Tulfo led the Gatchalian bloc's blue ribbon committee meeting on Monday and invited the 18 former soldiers and their lawyer Levi Baligod, who all failed to appear.
The meeting was suspended following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao.
