Sotto, Tulfo eye libel raps vs Baligod, ex-Marines

Senators Erwin Tulfo and Vicente ”Tito” Sotto III. PHOTOS: Senate PRIB and Lacson-Sotto media bureau

Senators Erwin Tulfo and Vicente ”Tito” Sotto III said they would file libel and cyberlibel complaints against the 18 alleged former Marines and their lawyer who linked them to supposed kickbacks from flood control projects that came from resigned lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.

In separate messages to the Inquirer on Friday, the senators confirmed their plan to pursue legal action after the allegations surfaced during Thursday’s hearing on alleged flood control anomalies held by the bloc aligned with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, which continues to challenge the Senate reorganization on June 3 that elected Tulfo as chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

READ: Sotto, Tulfo to file raps vs ‘ex-Marines’, Baligod over kickback claim

The hearing was presided over by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and proceeded despite objections from senators aligned with the chamber’s new leadership under acting Senate President Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian.

The former Marines, represented by Baligod, have claimed that they served as “bagmen” for Co and delivered money to politicians and other public figures.

Tulfo said he would file a libel complaint on Monday after presiding over his panel’s hearing on the flood control scandal.

When asked, Sotto said he would also file a complaint against Baligod and his clients.

“I’m just collecting the narratives they said … Cyberlibel malamang. Mas malakas at mas madaling patunayan (Most likely cyberlibel. It’s a stronger case and is easier to prove),” said Sotto, a former Senate president.

All about politics

The senators attributed to politics as to why they were among the personalities dragged into the supposed payoff.

“They thought I will run in 2028 as president or vice president because of the recent Pulse Asia survey where I topped the survey for [potential candidates for vice president],” Tulfo said.

Sotto, for his part, believed that the smear job was linked to his relationship with Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, his son, and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, his nephew.

“The first thing that comes to mind is they wanted to damage my reputation so that Gian and Vico will be affected,” he said.

“Defensor wants to run as Quezon City mayor, and the Discayas are connected to their group,” Sotto added.

He was referring to former Rep. Mike Defensor and contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, the couple at the center of anomalies in the government’s flood control projects. Vico Sotto defeated Sarah Discaya in the mayoral race in Pasig City in 2025.

Defensor, however, said he had not given the 2028 elections much thought as he was focused on “making those involved in corruption accountable and ensuring that the government retrieves the stolen money.”

“I have nothing personal against Sen. Tito Sotto nor against Vice Mayor Gian Sotto. I still consider them as friends but I cannot control what the Marines have stated,” he told the Inquirer.

During the Thursday hearing, Bernard Gumban, one of the former Marine soldiers, claimed that he delivered suitcases filled with cash twice to what he was told was Tulfo’s house in Greenhills. He said the first delivery involved two small suitcases while the second involved six.

‘Blatant lie’

Another alleged former Marine, Belnard Tube, claimed that he and his companions delivered two suitcases containing cash to a building in Baclaran, supposedly received by Sotto’s assistant, identified only as “Mark.”

Both Tulfo and Sotto denied the allegations.

Tulfo earlier described the claims as “a blatant lie,” while Sotto pointed out that his assistant Mark had died years before the supposed transaction took place.

“Hindi ko na talaga pinapatulan ‘yan pero paulit-ulit sila (I really haven’t been paying attention to these allegations, but they keep repeating it),” Sotto said.

Aside from Sotto and Tulfo, the former Marines also claimed to have delivered money to Fr. Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva, a Catholic priest and human rights advocate helping families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte; Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon; Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima; ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio; former lawmakers Raoul Manuel, France Castro and Arlene Brosas; and former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. They all denied the allegations.

In a statement, Arnold Janssen Foundation Inc., which was established by Villanueva, said the testimony of former Marine Joely Cadiao claiming that he brought money in an envelope to Villanueva near a church on Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City, was “false.”

It said the supposed delivery near a church on Mindanao Avenue “collapses on its facts,” as “no specific church was identified, and no SVD [Society of the Divine World] parish, church, or ministry center exists along Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City, that matches the witness’ description.”

It said that no reputation should be put on trial upon the basis of allegations “that cannot withstand the most basic scrutiny.”

“These allegations are not merely false. They are malicious, defamatory, and a grave injustice against a priest who has devoted his life to serving the poor, accompanying EJK victims and their families, and defending the dignity of those whose voices are often unheard,” it noted.

“Legal action has already been initiated. We intend to hold accountable those who have chosen to bear false witness,” the foundation said.

Impeachment link

Meanwhile, members of the House of Representatives’ prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte have questioned the latest testimony of the Marines.

In separate interviews on Thursday, Manila Rep. Joel Chua and Ridon cited several inconsistencies in what they described as rehashed claims made in the Senate hearing.

Chua cited the changes in the area where he was supposedly given money, as their affidavit in February stated that the money was handed to him at the Batasang Pambansa complex, while the former Marines were now claiming that it was given in a “townhouse.”

“First of all, I strongly deny their lies. It is already obvious that they are lying … Maybe they have been confused because of their lies,” Chua said in Filipino.

Ridon said the testimony of the former soldiers were meant to discredit the House prosecution team. His name, he said, was added to the list of alleged recipients after he was elected as member of the prosecution panel. He noted that the February document from the group did not include him.

“If they actually knew who I was, it should have been there in that actual affidavit [in February], right? Again, we are looking at it as a deliberate attempt to besmirch the credibility of the prosecution panel, but we will not be deterred,” Ridon said.

Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, the lead prosecutor, and De Lima separately said that such lies were being spread to discredit prosecutors for the upcoming impeachment trial.

De Lima earlier filed cyberlibel complaints against the 18 Marines for their “blatant lies.”

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, one of the prosecution panel’s spokesperson, reiterated that he did not receive any suitcases or cash from anyone.

He said the allegations might have been floated again to distract the public from Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate.