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Renalyn Ramirez - Philstar.com
June 5, 2026 | 7:00am
Combination photo shows Sens. Erwin Tulfo and Tito Sotto
Senate of the Philippines via Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers accused by the 18 alleged former Marines of receiving “maleta” filled with cash during a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing led by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Thursday, June 4, denied the allegations.
Sen. Tito Sotto refuted the claim of alleged former Marine Belnard Tube, who said he delivered two cash-filled suitcases to Sotto’s building in Baclaran.
Tube added that the suitcases were received by the senator’s assistant, “Mark.”
"OMG, noon pa 'yan sinabi ko na. I will not dignify such because I was not a senator from 2022 to 2025. The name they mentioned na EA (executive assistant) ko daw na tumanggap ay is Mark. Mark died in 2015, ano ba!” Sotto said.
(OMG, I've said that before. I will not dignify such claims because I was not a senator from 2022 to 2025. They said the executive assistant who supposedly received the money was named Mark. Mark died in 2015, for goodness' sake!)
Another alleged former Marine, Bernard Gumban, also claimed that he delivered a total of six suitcases of cash to Sen. Erwin Tulfo’s residence in Greenhills.
Tulfo also denied the allegation.
“Malaking kasinungalingan ang mga naging paratang ni Bernard Gumban, isa sa mga nagpakilalang 18 ex-Marines, sa ginaganap na bogus Blue Ribbon Hearing. Sa sobrang daming kasinungalingan, siya mismo ay litong-lito,” Tulfo said in a statement.
(The accusations made by Bernard Gumban, one of the alleged 18 former Marines, during the bogus Blue Ribbon Hearing are lies. There are so many falsehoods that he himself appears confused.)
Members of the House of Representatives who were mentioned by the alleged former Marines also denied the accusations.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon dismissed former Marine Jowly Cadiao's testimony as false and denied ever receiving a suitcase of cash.
"Kasinungalingan ang testimonya ni Jowly Cadiao. Walang maleta na idineliver sa akin sa kahit anumang panahon o sa kahit saan mang lugar," Ridon wrote on X.
"Tandaan: Tuloy ang impeachment trial. Walang kasinungalingan o gawa-gawang testimonya ang makapipigil sa House prosecution panel na magtuloy sa paglalahad ng katotohanan sa paglilitis ng Pangalawang Pangulo,” he added.
ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, who had previously filed libel and perjury complaints against the alleged former Marines, again denied the allegations.
“Uulitin ko: Whether sa maleta, sa paper bag o anuman yan, wala akong tinatanggap na pera," De Lima wrote on X.
(I repeat: Whether in a suitcase, paper bag, or anything else, I did not receive any money.)
"Hindi na rin nakapagtataka na nagkakabuhol-buhol ang kwento at paratang sa akin dahil imbento lang ang mga pinagsasabi nila — kasinungalingan na inulit lang sa isang kwestyonableng hearing sa Senado,” she added.
(It is not surprising that their stories and accusations against me are inconsistent because they are fabricated — lies that were merely repeated during a questionable Senate hearing.)
The 18 alleged former Marines, along with their lawyer Levi Baligod, served as resource persons during the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing attended by the bloc led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
