Erwin Tulfo sues 18 ex-soldiers over shifting suitcase claims

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo has filed libel complaints against 18 former soldiers who accused him of receiving suitcases from fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co.

Tulfo filed the complaints before the Pasay City Regional Trial Court on Monday, June 8, after denying the former soldiers’ allegation and saying it was not backed by evidence.

The claim was made during a June 4 Blue Ribbon Committee hearing led by the bloc of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, which Tulfo said was not an official proceeding.

The former soldiers, who claimed to be security aides of Co, alleged that Tulfo received suitcases from the former lawmaker at his residence in San Juan.

In an interview with ANC on June 5, Tulfo said the former soldiers' allegation that they delivered suitcases of cash to his home in Greenhills was not credible, since everyone knows he lives in the exclusive San Juan City village.

"Nabanggit ba nila [si] Senadora Loren Legarda at yung dalawang Villar? Nabanggit kasi nila noong una e. Hindi! Wala!" Tulfo said. (Did they mention Senator Loren Legarda and the two Villars? They mentioned them before. No, none!)

He was referring to earlier affidavit the men signed that tagged three senadors, including siblings Camille and Mark. While their names were not mentioned at the Cayetano bloc "Blue Ribbon" meeting on June 5, Tulfo's was.

"Binabago-bago nila, so nagsisinungaling ang mga 'yan. Na-areglo na ba sila? Nabulungan na ba sila? Nung una sinabi nila kasama si Loren, kasama 'yung dalawang magkakapatid... bakit ngayon bago na naman?" Tulfo added.

(They changed it, so they're lying. Did they receive settlement? Were they whispered to? They said at first Loren was part of it, and the two Villar siblings... why has that changed now?)

Complaints against former soldiers

Tulfo is the seventh individual to file libel and perjury complaints against the 18 former soldiers, publicly known as the "18 Marines," before the Philippine military rebuffed the label and cited dishonorable discharge of some of the accusers.

Several personalities have filed complaints before the Department of Justice over the former soldiers’ statements, including former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Rep. Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal, Fr. Flavie Villanueva, Bureau of Corrections Director Gregorio Catapang Jr. and former National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.

Iloilo Rep. Julienne Baronda also filed complaints against the former soldiers.

Hearing dispute

The former soldiers did not appear at the Gatchalian bloc’s Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Monday.

Cayetano had earlier warned them that Monday’s hearing was not authorized and told the lawyer of the 18 men that they could not be assured of the same protections before what he described as an improperly constituted proceeding.

The former soldiers attended the June 4 hearing led by Cayetano’s bloc, but the proceedings were not officially recorded by the Senate Secretary or transcribed by Senate legislative debate reporters.