Rowegie Abanto

Sen. Erwin Tulfo. Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit/File

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, chairperson of the Committee on Games and Amusement, expressed his willingness to listen to all stakeholders involved with or affected by the online gambling industry. However, he noted that, he would prefer to see online gambling banned, criminalized, and all platforms blocked. Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

PH SENATE

Jamaine Punzalan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178088029572320250814-senate-probe-online-gambling-SSMU2 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Erwin Tulfo. <em>Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Eighteen individuals who claimed to have delivered suitcases of kickbacks to various politicians showed up at the office of Sen. Robin Padilla on Monday despite being invited to a flood control probe led by Sen. Erwin Tulfo. </p><p>Upon questioning by the Tulfo, the Blue Ribbon Committee secretary confirmed the  18 individuals were invited to the Monday’s consultative meeting “but we have not received any reply.”  </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1641455050829591%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>But the 18 individuals later showed up at the Senate with their lawyer Levito Baligod. </div><p>“Despite yung ating imbitasyon sa kanila na dumalo sa hearing, mas minabuti po nilang magtungo sa opisina ni Sen. Robin Padilla at doon mag-monitor at mag-live din…at magpa-presscon,” Tulfo said.</p><p>“They’re here in the building…pero ayaw po nilang bumaba dito,” he said.  </p><p>Sen  Francis Pangilinan warned that the group’s continued refusal to attend the probe could lead to a contempt citation. </p><p>“We can, at the right time, compel them to attend, subpoena them and if they refuse, we can have them cited in contempt and maybe arrested — when the Blue Ribbon has been fully constituted,” he said.  </p><p>Tulfo replied, “Definitely, vice chair, kasi nga nagpupunta sila dito sa ating opisina para lang mang-insulto, pupunta pa sa tanggapan ng isa sa kasama natin at doon magpi-press conference.”</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1549704696547857%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian said he had wanted to question the 18 former bodyguards over the “gaps” and &quot;inconsistencies&quot; in their claims. </div><p>“Dapat pumunta po sila dito para ipamahagi at i-share sa atin ang katotohanan. Hindi  ho puwedeng pumili kung saan sila pupunta at magsasalita, hindi ho puwedeng pumili kung sino ang kakausapin nila, kung kakampi o hindi,” he said. </p><p>“Dahil kung alam mong nasa puso mo ang katotohanan, kahit saan ka pumunta, katotohanan ang dapat mong sabihin.”</p><p>The continuation of the probe came after the bloc of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano tackled the flood control issue Thursday <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/3/senators-clash-on-blue-ribbon-hearing-resumption-2047">despite committee reorganizations</a> prompted by the group of Gatchalian. </p><p>During the Cayetano-led proceedings, which Gatchalian said was &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/5/cayetano-bloc-s-flood-control-probe-a-gathering-not-hearing-gatchalian-0830">not a hearing but a gathering</a>,&quot; the 18 supposed bagmen of former House appropriations committee chair Zaldy Co claimed that they delivered suitcases and paper bags containing cash to various politicians and government officials.</p><p>Several high-profile personalities were tagged to the corruption scheme, including Tulfo, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Sen. Vicente Sotto III, Rep. Leila De Lima, and Rep. Gerville Luistro, among others. </p><p>They have denied the allegations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/6/sotto-to-file-raps-vs-18-witnesses-remulla-questions-cayetano-bloc-brc-hearing-1611">Sotto to file raps vs 18 witnesses; Remulla questions Cayetano bloc Blue Ribbon hearing</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/7/more-raps-loom-vs-18-bagmen-over-flood-control-claims-1241">More raps loom vs 18 &#x27;bagmen&#x27; over flood control claims</a></div><p>Meanwhile, former Speaker Martin Romualdez, several lawmakers, and former employees of Co skipped Monday’s hearing. </p><p>The House of Representatives declined the invitation on behalf of the lawmakers, citing interparliamentary courtesy.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATE LEADERSHIP </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Sen. Francis Pangilinan maintained during the June 8 hearing that the election of Gatchalian as acting Senate chief and Tulfo as Blue Ribbon chairperson was “lawful and consistent with the constitution.” Pangilinan said the Cayetano group’s June 4 proceedings  were “illegal, void ab initio, and had no binding effect.” </p><p>Meanwhile, 92 lawyers on Sunday who included Israelito Torreon, James Patrick Bondoc, Ferdinand Topacio asserted that Senate leadership change was constitutionally void because it was carried out by only 12 senators.</p><p>&quot;Twelve senators cannot do what twenty-four senators are required to do,&quot; the group said. &quot;The Constitution is not suspended because the minority acts quickly.&quot;</p><p>They claimed the reorganization was &quot;targeted and pre-planned,&quot; specifically aimed at gaining control of committees and altering the rules for the pending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>The lawyers declared this move &quot;the most dangerous act of all,&quot; claiming it was designed to potentially remove Cayetano as the presiding officer of the Vice President&#x27;s trial. </p><div><strong>— With reports from Bea Cuadra, Jessie Cruzat, and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News </strong></div><div><strong>WATCH:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5cEWsq_Le58?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, on Monday morning, June 8, resumed its investigation into the alleged irregularities in flood control projects.</p>

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, on Monday morning, June 8, resumed its investigation into the alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

'Ex-Co bodyguards' skip Tulfo-led flood control probe, show up at Padilla's office

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'Ex-Co bodyguards' skip Tulfo-led flood control probe, show up at Padilla's office

Rowegie Abanto,

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 08, 2026 09:12 AM PHT

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Updated June 08, 2026 11:50 AM PHT

Read More:

Erwin Tulfo

Flood Control

Flood Control Scandal

Senate

Blue Ribbon Committee

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