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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Erwin Tulfo wants Senate probe into casinos' role in flood control project mess

Erwin Tulfo wants Senate probe into casinos' role in flood control project mess

Published Sep 14, 2025 02:01 pm

At A Glance

  • The senator said it was clear casinos were turning a blind eye on questionable transactions and refusing to report such to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) when it allowed officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to gamble away public funds within their premises.


Sen. Erwin Tulfo said on Sunday, September 14 he will file a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into the role of casinos in the anomalies surrounding government flood control projects.

Tulfo said it was clear casinos were turning a blind eye on questionable transactions and refusing to report such to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) when it allowed officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to gamble away public funds within their premises.

“They (casinos) cannot claim ignorance, suggesting that they did not know these are government officials or working in DPWH just because they used fake IDs,” said Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement.

“I thought they strictly implement their ‘Know Your Client’ or KYC policy? Why didn’t they investigate what kind of business or profession their players are into? Their surnames on their fake IDs don’t have any hint that they are tycoons or from billionaire families,” the lawmaker further said.

Tulfo pointed out how dismissed DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engr. Henry Alcanta used the alias “Joseph Villegas,” while Assistant District Engr. Brice Hernandez used a fake ID with an alias “Marvin De Guzman,” and Project Engr. Jaypee Mendoza adopted “Peejay Asuncion” as his alias.

“They didn't even raise a single red flag or report this to the AMLC despite these individuals bringing in hundreds of millions in cash to the casino every single week,” the lawmaker stated, noting this also meant bigger income for the casino business.

Moreover, if the casinos did their part in monitoring and reporting the transactions, Tulfo said these DPWH officials would have been apprehended immediately, “and their pilfering of public funds could have been stopped.”

Related Tags

Erwin Tulfo casino Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) DPWH corruption 2025 flood control mess money laundering
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