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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Expected ko na 'yon': Erwin Tulfo not surprised by 'maleta boys' recanting kickback claims

'Expected ko na 'yon': Erwin Tulfo not surprised by 'maleta boys' recanting kickback claims

Published Aug 7, 2026 01:58 pm
Sen. Erwin Tulfo said on Friday, Aug. 7, that he expected four of the so-called “maleta boys” to recant their earlier testimonies alleging that they delivered luggage containing flood control kickbacks to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Senator Erwin Tulfo calls for stronger government protection for street vendors as the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development opened deliberations on measures seeking to establish a Magna Carta for Street Vendors. (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Erwin Tulfo calls for stronger government protection for street vendors as the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development opened deliberations on measures seeking to establish a Magna Carta for Street Vendors. (Senate PRIB photo)
“I don't know. Pero ako, expected ko na ho yon na mag-re-recant po sila (But I expected them to recant),” Tulfo said in an interview.
The senator questioned the earlier men's claim that they were forced to sign their earlier affidavits by the Office of the Ombudsman, noting that they were accompanied by lawyers, including lawyer Atty. Levito Baligod.
Tulfo also questioned why the four men later executed separate affidavits recanting their earlier statements if their initial testimonies had been truthful.
The senator believes that the men may have had a change of heart after realizing that they could face legal consequences over their allegations.
“Siguro po, nakonsensya din ho siguro. Dahil nakita nila, kasi kung talagang totoo yung sinasabi nila, hindi siguro ganun kadaming demanda ang aabutin nila (Perhaps they also felt guilty. Because they saw that if what they were saying were really true, they probably wouldn’t be facing this many complaints),” Tulfo said.
The four men are part of the 18 individuals who surfaced and claimed they had personally delivered bags containing alleged kickbacks from flood control projects to various personalities, including the President and Romualdez.
Part of their claim was that they delivered two cash-filled suitcases to Tulfo.
Four of them recently withdrew their accusations in an interview with GMA, saying they had been promised financial assistance in exchange for giving testimonies that they now admit were untrue.
The four, who wore jackets, caps and face masks during the interview, also claimed they were not the ones who prepared their original affidavits and that they agreed to the allegations because they were promised financial support that would last for two years.
Tulfo said that the criminal complaint his camp filed before the Pasay City Prosecutor's Office against the men remains pending, saying the respondents have yet to appear despite repeated subpoenas.
“Just to clarify, yung finile ho namin sa Pasay, hindi po sila nag-a-appear. Ilang beses na po sinubpoena ng Pasay Fiscal's Office. Nobody's appearing (Just to clarify, regarding the case we filed in Pasay, they have not been appearing. The Pasay Fiscal’s Office has subpoenaed them several times, but nobody has appeared),” he said.

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Erwin Tulfo Maleta Boys President Marcos Martin Romualdez
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