Published June 5, 2026 9:12am + Add GMA on Google Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google. Senator Erwin Tulfo on Friday said he is preparing to file charges against supposed former Marines who accused him and several other lawmakers of receiving suitcases with money, adding the allegations are politically motivated.Tulfo told GMA News’ Unang Balita in an interview that he was not offended by the accusations and instead found the claims amusing.“Nakakatuwa po, pinapanood ko po sila kahapon. Ako po ay natutuwa, hindi po ako naiinis. Kapag may mga kinukwento, lalo mga marites, mga gawa-gawang istorya, matatawa ka na lang,” he said.(It’s funny, I watched them yesterday. I’m amused, I'm not annoyed. When people tell stories, especially the marites, made-up stories, you just laugh.)“Pero siyempre 'di naman tayo papayag na ganun-ganun na lamang. Tayo ay naghahanda na ngayon para sampahan ng kaso yung nag-akusa sa atin,” he added.(But of course we won’t let it slide. We are now preparing to file a case against those who accused us.)Tulfo said he wants his accusers to present evidence before the proper forum and challenged them to bring their allegations before the Office of the Ombudsman.On Wednesday, Gatchalian was elected Senate President Pro Tempore and later declared acting Senate President. However, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano maintains that he is still the Senate President.Senator Pia Cayetano, who is the Blue Ribbon chairperson under his brother’s leadership, conducted a hearing on Thursday with resource persons who identified themselves as former Marines.Tulfo, rejected the legitimacy of the proceeding and described it as a "sham hearing."For him, the June 4 event at the upper chamber was merely a meeting, forum, or press conference and not an official Senate Blue Ribbon hearing.He noted that the gathering was not recorded in the Senate journal, had no official Blue Ribbon Committee staff present, and was not documented through the committee's regular processes.Tulfo, as the Blue Ribbon chairperson under Gatchalian’s leadership, set the hearing on June 8, in which the supposed ex-Marines are also invited.He said the committee would not allow surprise witnesses and would subject all witnesses to a vetting process in accordance with committee rules.Asked about the possible motive behind the allegations, Tulfo pointed to politics.Tulfo said that Senators Loren Legarda and Mark Villar, who are part of Alan Peter Cayetano’s bloc, were initially named in earlier allegations but were no longer being mentioned in the June 4 event.He claimed that he and other senators were being targeted because they are viewed as political threats by a certain group.“Tungkol po sa survey. Ito na po 'yon. Tinitingnan po nila na tayo ay tatakbo bilang bise o presidente kaming magkapatid kaya katakot-takot po na banat. Isang grupo lang naman po 'yan, 'yung grupo lang po nila tumitira,” he said.(It was about the survey. That's it. They're looking at the Tulfo brothers running for vice or president, so we are being attacked. There is just one group that is attacking us.) —AOL, GMA News