Geline Salac

‘Wag masyado hot’: Tulfo tells Cayetano flood control probe to look into ‘new’ angles

Article (news)

Jamaine Punzalan

ABS-CBN News

<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/9SRAKQPMxzY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Friday told Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano to wait for the Blue Ribbon Committee to resume its flood control probe, which would shift to unexamined issues. </p><p>Cayetano on Thursday reportedly said he would support the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) probe into the alleged procurement irregularities in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games — but only if minority senators would be allowed to look into the flood control mess.</p><p>His condition follows NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s announcement that the bureau was looking into supposed infrastructure irregularities and unliquidated funds for the SEA Games, the organizing committee of which was headed by Cayetano. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/15/nbi-creates-task-force-to-probe-alleged-irregularities-in-2019-sea-games-1846">NBI creates task force to probe alleged irregularities in 2019 SEA Games </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/19/19/sea-games-cayetano-insists-nothing-anomalous-in-multi-million-peso-cauldron">SEA Games: Cayetano insists nothing anomalous in multi-million peso cauldron</a></div><p>“So madali lang yan, Malacanang. Kasi sumusunod naman sa inyo, sina Sen. Erwin, sina Sen. Lacson, yung mga nasa Blue Ribbon, kalabitin nyo na,” Cayetano said in a Facebook video. </p><p>Tulfo noted that the Blue Ribbon still needed to appoint a vice chairman and tap members from the minority bloc after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27. </p><p>“Mayroon pong kaming mga investigation na gagawin sa flood control, so ika mo, relax lang, ‘wag masyado hot… Talaga naman kung ano na lang si Boy Banat. Dadating po tayo d’yan. Hindi po natin titigilan ‘yang flood control na ‘yan,” Tulfo told DZMM. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/16/fact-check-di-sinabi-ni-nbi-chief-melvin-matibag-na-ipakukulong-niya-si-sen-alan-peter-cayetano-2036">FACT CHECK: Hindi sinabi ni NBI chief Melvin Matibag na ipakukulong niya si Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano</a></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/MNXWohUJ2-Q?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>But Tulfo pointed out that cases have been filed against some lawmakers and contractors allegedly involved in flood control anomalies.  </p><p>“Ngayon, kung sasabihin niya (Cayetano), imbestigahan na naman ito, para ano pa? Mayroon na nga pong kaso,” he said. “Ang hahanapin ko po yung bago.”</p><p>“Ang iimbestigahan na flood control, kung may bagong ebidensya na naman laban sa isang tao, ibang project na naman. For example, si Zaldy Co, bukod sa flood control, mayroon pa pala siyang mga farm-to-market road, mayroon pa pala siyang mga eskwelahan na ipinatayo na ika nga ghost schools,” Tulfo added.</p><p>During <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial">Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial </a>this week, Cayetano claimed the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/15/-binabawasan-talaga-kami-iniisa-isa-cayetano-says-2019-sea-games-probe-aims-to-intimidate-him-1433">NBI’s SEA Games probe was meant to “intimidate” him</a>. His sister Sen. Pia Cayetano added that the investigation would harass and distract her brother from the impeachment trial.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/16/wrap-speeches-slamming-sea-games-probe-nearly-upstage-oral-arguments-0016">WRAP: Speeches slamming SEA Games probe nearly upstage oral arguments </a></div><p>Tulfo said the impeachment trial was not the proper forum for these remarks. </p><p>“May proper forum po; hindi naman po dapat sa impeachment court sinasabi po ‘yan. Tutal, gusto n’ya naman, sa Facebook po sinabi ni Matibag, dapat sinagot niya sa Facebook; hindi na po ginamit yung oras ng impeachment court,” Tulfo said. </p><p>“Kasi the impeachment court was established for the Vice President, it is the proper forum for the Vice President to deny allegations, to defend herself—not to defend ourself,” he added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/16/-kayo-ba-ay-guilty-palace-defends-nbi-vs-cayetanos-intimidation-remark-1531">‘Kayo ba ay guilty?’: Palace defends NBI vs Cayetanos’ ‘intimidation’ remark</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/16/palace-says-marcos-yet-to-approve-release-of-sara-duterte-s-tax-records-1653">Palace says Marcos yet to approve release of Sara Duterte&#x27;s tax records </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/15/luistro-hopes-senator-judges-can-separate-matibag-s-testimony-from-other-concerns-2025">Luistro hopes senator-judges can separate Matibag’s testimony from other concerns</a></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/aqMa-3qyVO8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/gF9vHpHlr_A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/lutSu5fgfMA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Friday told Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano to wait for the Blue Ribbon Committee to resume its flood control probe, which would shift to new angle.</p>

Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Friday told Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano to wait for the Blue Ribbon Committee to resume its flood control probe, which would shift to new angle.