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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Erwin Tulfo yields investigation on ex-Speaker Romualdez to Ombudsman

Erwin Tulfo yields investigation on ex-Speaker Romualdez to Ombudsman

Published Jul 27, 2026 07:43 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Erwin Tulfo said there is no longer any reason for the panel to pursue a former House speaker after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disclosed that the Office of the Ombudsman is nearing the filing of multiple cases against the former official.
  • Tulfo said the Blue Ribbon Committee will resume its investigation into anomalous flood control projects once its membership is finalized and will also probe alleged corruption in other government agencies, including kickback schemes involving environment-related permits.
  • Tulfo welcomed Marcos' mention of lower electricity costs and the West Philippine Sea in his fifth SONA, saying he will push amendments to the EPIRA Law to reduce power charges and reaffirming support for the administration's defense of Philippine sovereignty.
After President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disclosed that multiple cases against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez will soon be filed, according to the Office of the Ombudsman, Senator Erwin Tulfo said he no longer sees any reason for the Blue Ribbon Committee to focus on him.
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
"What's the purpose?" Tulfo, who chairs the panel, said in an interview after the President's fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
"Para namang pinaghihimasukan namin ang trabaho [ng Ombudsman] (It would seem like we're interfering with the Ombudsman's work)," he added.
He said that the panel's job is to investigate in aid of legislation, not prosecution.
Tulfo reiterated his commitment to continue the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's investigation into allegedly anomalous flood control projects.
The senator said the inquiry would resume once the committee's membership is finalized. He added that the panel also intends to investigate corruption in other government agencies, including alleged kickback schemes involving the issuance of environment-related permits.
"As chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, our investigation into anomalous flood control projects will continue. We will begin as soon as the committee's membership is completed," he said.
Tulfo welcomed the President's inclusion of key issues he has been pushing in the Senate, particularly on lowering electricity costs, and defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, Tulfo said he was pleased that Marcos highlighted concerns that he has been advocating in the Senate.
On power rates, Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy, said the panel has already begun hearings on proposed amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
He said the proposed amendments aim to ease the burden on consumers by removing charges such as the system loss charge and certain taxes from electricity bills.
"As current chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, we have already started hearings on the EPIRA Law amendments. We will work to have these enacted into law and finally remove additional burdens on consumers such as the system loss charge and taxes," Tulfo said.
He also expressed support for the administration's position on the West Philippine Sea, stressing that the Philippines should continue asserting its sovereign rights.
"We stand with the administration in defending our sovereignty. The West Philippine Sea is ours. We will not be intimidated," he said.

Related Tags

flood control probe Erwin Tulfo SONA 2026 Martin Romualdez
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