Raffy Tulfo calls out DICT’s arrogance: What’s so special about you?

In this September 2024 file photo, Sen. Raffy Tulfo is asking the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to immediately submit its assessment and evaluation report against the integrity and trustworthiness of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office lotto games. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Raffy Tulfo said that he would no longer support the Department of  Information and Communications Technology (DICT), citing the agency’s alleged arrogance for skipping the upper chamber’s earlier probe into the reported irregularities surrounding the lotto games, among other things.

Tulfo disclosed that he has a “long list” of DICT’s purported “mistakes” the public should know about and that he intends to reveal them during the Senate subcommittee on finance’s Wednesday hearing on the agency’s proposed 2025 budget.

READ: Tulfo probes into lotto bettor’s case who ‘invested’ P90-M, ‘won’ P600-M

“Ang dami niyo kapalpakan, this time di ako magiging supporter niyo didikdikin ko kayo, ang dami niyo ginawang mali, yan ang ikakalkal ko ngayong araw. I have a long list of things that the people should know and that you should know to correct your problems,” the senator said.

(This time, I will not be your supporter; I will unveil your many mistakes, and I will dig them today.)

Among the issues he raised was DICT’s absence during the games and amusement committee hearing earlier this year. The agency was asked to present the results of its investigation of a case of whether the lotto games are still credible.

To recall, Tulfo flagged the potential irregularities surrounding a lotto bettor who reportedly won more than P600 million on a 6/49 lotto draw via system play in March this year.

“Walang sumipot ni isa, may sumipot isa pero di sya talaga taong kailangan ko. Why? Nagmamalaki na ba kayo? What’s so special about you, DICT? If you are one of the top performing government agencies, pwede kayo magmalaki at hindi magpakita at magsnub but you are one of the poor performers,” Tulfo stressed.

(No one showed up. There is one who attended the hearing but he is not needed in the investigation. Why? Are you arrogant now?)

“And so, today, you will hear from me things that you wouldn’t expect to hear from me back in 2022,” he added.

Earlier during the hearing, Tulfo revealed that he was a staunch supporter of the DICT.

“[…] because I see the need for this country to have a strong anti-cybercrime group that will protect our cyberspace. I saw the importance of DICT. In fact, I even fought for your budget to be increased, but it was unfortunate it didn’t go through. So, now, I’m really very disappointed with DICT,” he said.