- The senate inquiry grew heated when Senator Antonio Trillanes IV started to question the Tulfo siblings.
- Trillanes turned to the siblings one-by-one, trying to crack their facade and admit to the plunder.
- Senator Richard Gordon, however, noted that no conclusion has been made yet.
An investigation in the Senate was held on August 14, Tuesday regarding an anomaly when Wanda Tulfo-Teo was still the secretary of the Department of Tourism (DoT). Teo and her brothers Erwin and Ben Tulfo attended the hearing.
The brothers were accused to have received an amount of Php 60million from DoT for ad placements in their television show on the government-owned network, PTV4. The senate inquiry grew heated when Senator Antonio Trillanes IV started to question the siblings.
Trillanes to Wanda
Trillanes stated that the Tulfo siblings can face a plunder case because of the anomaly they are involved in. He also advised Teo on changing legal defense. He continued that it was impossible Teo didn’t know the money went to her brothers’ Kilos Pronto show.
“Kung ako sa inyo, mag-iba na kayo ng legal defense kasi alam niyo po, sa buong Pilipinas na nanunuod sa inyo, eh, hindi paniniwalaan na hindi mo alam na napunta ‘yan sa kapatid mo.”
Trillanes to Ben
Trillanes turned to Ben and asked how much was the total amount he received. He noted how Ben usually swears and cusses on his radio program.
“Papunta tayo rito kay Mr. Ben Tulfo, magkano ang total na na-receive mo? Ito na, panay ang iwas na, pero dun sa radio program, eh, ke tapang, eh. Pero ngayon, nabibilaukan, yung katotohanan, ang hirap lumabas ano Mr. Ben Tulfo? Anyway, ganito ‘yan, alam niyo dito as described, swak na swak. Kumbaga, pasok na pasok ka, Bitag, dito sa Bitag, diba Mr. Tulfo?”
Trillanes to Erwin
Trillanes, then, slammed Erwin on allegedly pretending that he’s not involved in the said issue.
“Ngayon, pupunta tayo kay Mr. Erwin Tulfo, kanina kasi ‘yung paghuhugas ng kamay, eh, maliwanag parang hindi kasangkot dito. Pero kapatid ka ni Secretary Teo at hindi ka ordinaryong empleyado ng Bitag. Magkapatid kayo. So, napakinggan ninyo ang definition ko kanina (sa plunder), so pasok na pasok sa Bitag.”
Erwin answered Trillanes, pointing out that Trillanes hasn’t proved that the siblings are involved in plunder.
“Una ho sa lahat, kanina ko pa naririnig, ipinipilit mo na may plunder. Patunayan mo muna na may plunder, bossing, okay? Ngayon, it’s not for you to decide, it’s the court to decide, sir, alright?”
Senator Richard Gordon stopped the brewing altercation between Trillanes and Erwin. Gordon also told the siblings that it was just Trillanes’ style of questioning. He then turned to Trillanes and said:
“Nothing has been concluded here.”
