Tulfo sues Defensor, ex-‘bagmen’
Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday filed a fresh grave oral defamation complaint against several individuals, including former Quezon City Rep. Mike Defensor and two of the 18 ex-bodyguards of former party list Rep. Zaldy Co, for implicating him in the flood control scandal.
Apart from Defensor, also charged with the complaint in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office were Co’s former “bagmen” Jeron Valderama and Bernard Gumban, their lawyer Levito Baligod, incumbent Quezon City Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica, and lawyer Virgilio Garcia.
The case stemmed from the allegations made during a press conference led by Defensor and Baligod at the Doublegem Edsa Garden Events Place on June 16 that the senator received kickbacks from the flood control scam.
‘Maleta’ recipient
“It cannot be denied that the [respondents] have acted, with deliberate intent and full knowledge, to publicly cast oral imputations against me that ascribe the commission of a serious crime of corruption that tend to dishonor, discredit and place me in contempt not only as a public servant but also as a family man,” Tulfo said in his complaint-affidavit.
“Respondents have acted in concert to accuse me of allegedly being a recipient of ‘maletas’ (suitcases) containing loads of cash or ‘basura’ (garbage). These alleged cash deliveries are claimed to have been carved out supposedly from different funded projects of the government, particularly funds from the flood control projects of the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways),” he added.
According to Tulfo, he filed the complaint because “I cannot simply remain passive and act unaffected by these falsehoods.”
He stressed that the respondents’ malicious imputation of corruption and bribery against him was not only defamatory in nature but also grave in character, warranting their criminal liability for grave oral defamation under Article 358 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to the pertinent provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or Republic Act No. 11075.
First case
Tulfo first filed in June a grave oral defamation complaint against three of the 18 alleged bodyguards of Co, identified as Gumban, Rosebert Waupan and Benny Bulontate for implicating him in the flood control controversy.
This was after the 18 individuals who had introduced themselves as former Marines claimed in a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing led by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta that, upon Co’s instructions, they delivered suitcases of money to Tulfo and other lawmakers, including Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and former Sen. Leila de Lima, among others.
Other lawmakers named by the 18 bagmen, including Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, Manila Rep. Benny Abante, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin and former Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, have also filed libel cases against them.
