Jamaine Punzalan

Senator Robin Padilla, Atty. Levito Baligod, and the former bodyguards of Zaldy Co held a press conference to address issues surrounding the recent Senate hearings on Monday, June 8, 2026.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

GHOST FLOOD CONTROL ISSUES

Jessie Cruzat

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178090500393420260608-senate-baligod-ex-co-bodyguards-MT3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Senator Robin Padilla, Atty. Levito Baligod, and the former bodyguards of Zaldy Co held a press conference to address issues surrounding the recent Senate hearings on Monday, June 8, 2026.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div><div> </div>MANILA (UPDATED) — Senator Erwin Tulfo on Monday filed a grave oral defamation complaint before a Pasay City court against three of the 18 ex-congressman Zaldy Co&#x27;s former bodyguards who claimed to have delivered suitcases filled with money to politicians.Tulfo said he would not let what he described as baseless allegations and false accusations pass.“Dati po pinalusot ko pa ito noong una. I mean, dahil wala namang talagang katotohanan. Pero yung ginawa nila noong June 4, padami na padami. Dati ilang maleta lang, naging walong maleta na. Tapos meron na ngayong human trafficking. Puro kalokohan na,” said Tulfo.“Tapos nakakalungkot. Pinagtatanggalan naman nila yung listahan, nagbawas sila ng mga tao. So talaga nakikita mo na gawa-gawa lang po nila itong mga accusations,” he added.Tulfo was among the personalities the group accused of receiving cash from Co. He said he would inhibit from the proceedings should the 18 ex-bodyguards attend the panel hearing. The senator noted that he believes politics is behind efforts to link his name to the scandal.Despite this, Tulfo maintained that he has no plans to seek a higher position in the next national elections.“Politics. Dahil nga may mga nagsilabasan, ito na ang sinasabi ko noon pa, I think three months ago. Huwag nyo kami samasama dyan sa survey na yan, presidential, tapos may lumabas pa, tapos mga pahayag ng mga political analysts na only a Tulfo can beat the Dutertes,” he said.“Hindi naman kami interesado kung tumakbo si Sara, di tumakbo siya. Marami pong interesado na tumakbo na pagkapangulo. Bakit kami kaagad ang tutulak dyan?” he added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/5/tulfo-ties-with-duterte-in-recent-pulse-asia-presidential-survey-1137">Tulfo, Duterte tied in mock presidential matchup — Pulse Asia survey</a></div>Meanwhile, the senator disclosed that he received an email from Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, son of Sen. Loren Legarda, expressing his intention to attend a Blue Ribbon hearing under his leadership.According to Tulfo, the email proves Leviste recognizes the panel under his chairmanship and not the one being led by Senator Pia Cayetano. “Ang sagot ko naman po sa kaniya, through our Blue Ribbon secretariat, magpadala po siya ng affidavit para malaman po namin kung anong sasabihin niya,” Tulfo said.Legarda is a member of the Cayetano bloc, while Tulfo belongs to the Gatchalian bloc.Tulfo also apologized to the public for the events that have transpired in the Senate and urged senators from the other bloc to work with them in addressing more pressing concerns facing the country.“Kaya nga po we cut short our meeting kanina ng Blue Ribbon kasi may maa pressing na problema po ang ating bayan, ‘yon pong nga biktima ng lindol doon sa Sarangani sa Mindanao. Isantabi na muna natin itong Blue Ribbon na ito ng mga accountability, let’s joined forces kayo po sa minority sumama po kayo sa amin para pag-usapan po natin kung paano tayo makatutulong sa mga tinamaan ng lindol,” he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/tulfo-says-ex-marine-accuser-confused-with-own-lies-1523">Tulfo says ‘ex-Marine’ accuser ‘confused’ with own ‘lies’</a></div><div> </div><div>18 EX-BODYGUARDS WITH PADILLA</div>The 18 men and their legal counsel Levito Baligod arrived at the Senate past 9:30 a.m. on Monday. Baligod said they were willing to attend Monday’s hearing and were not evading questions, but had a press conference first at the office of Senator Robinhood Padilla.“Pangit naman yung ikaw na yung inireklamo, ikaw pa mag-imbestiga, ikaw pa ang maging huwes,” Baligod said regarding Tulfo.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/8/tulfo-scores-cayetano-for-coaching-18-bagmen-warns-vs-scripture-quoting-devil-1245">Tulfo scores Cayetano bloc for &#x27;coaching&#x27; 18 ‘bagmen’, warns vs bible-quoting &#x27;devil&#x27;</a></div>Baligod said they foresee Tulfo citing them in contempt if he leads the hearing. “If the former soldiers will affirm and confirm what they stated in their affidavit, what would be the response of Mr. Erwin Tulfo and other legislators similarly situated? Sasabihin ba niya, nagsasabi kayo ng totoo? Hindi po. Ang sasabihin niya, nagsisinungaling kayo,” Baligod said. “So, wala kaming ibang patutunguhan, kungdi kulong po eh. And that is why the logic of our request, the reason, the basis for our request is for him to recuse himself, to inhibit and let those who were not named in the affidavit to preside over the investigation,” he added.  Pwede nila kaming ipadala sa Pasay City Jail.&quot;Prior to the press conference, Senator Robinhood Padilla decided to fetch Baligod and the men from the ground floor and asked the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) if they were being prevented from going up. Sergeant-at-Arms Alfred Corpus insisted they were just being asked to go through the visitor management system. <div>14 OTHER EX-CO EMPLOYEES</div>Baligod, meanwhile, also said they will submit the names of 14 other supposed former marines who were employees of Co, who are willing to testify regarding their deliveries of suitcases. There are allegedly seven other former soldiers who may also testify. Johnny Buduan, one of the 18 former employees, said they are only telling the truth.“Lahat po ng nilabas namin totoo po yan, wala pong kasinungalingan,” Buduan remarked. “Wala pong problema yung mga kaso, kasuhan po nila kami. Sagutin namin lahat yung mga kaso na yan,” he added.Marcos only recognizes Gatchalian-led Senate, Palace says ahead of supplemental budget requestBuduan denied receiving any amount in exchange for testifying. He is leaving it to his lawyer to address the claim that the hearing last week was bogus. Baligod, meanwhile, clarified that Cayetano did not instruct them to snub the hearing; the lawmaker only told Baligod and the men that he did not authorize any Blue Ribbon hearing.But because the hearing was suspended at around 11:41a.m., Baligod and the 18 men were not able to attend.He said he was disappointed, but is willing to participate in the next hearing. Baligod also went up to the office of Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. “Inexplain ko kay Senator Sotto kung bakit na-late kami. Ang unang rason ay hinihintay namin yung lima na nanggaling sa probinsya na may lamay,” Baligod said.“Nabanggit ko sa kanya ‘Oh, pag mag-file ka ng libel sa ‘min ok lang basta walang personalan’,” he said. “Tawa lang siya.”

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Monday filed a grave oral defamation complaint before a Pasay City court against three of the 18 ex-congressman Zaldy Co's former bodyguards who claimed to have delivered suitcases filled with money to politicians.

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Monday filed a grave oral defamation complaint before a Pasay City court against three of the 18 ex-congressman Zaldy Co's former bodyguards who claimed to have delivered suitcases filled with money to politicians.

Tulfo sues 3 of 18 ‘bagmen’ for defamation

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Tulfo sues 3 of 18 ‘bagmen’ for defamation

Jessie Cruzat,

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 08, 2026 03:53 PM PHT

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Updated June 08, 2026 07:13 PM PHT

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Senate

ex Marines

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