By Adolfo Quizon Paglinawan

 

Part 7: Is it worth saving an incompetent and corrupt President?

            The headlines are truly disconcerting as Typhoon Uwan’s casualties crawl to 18, shy of earlier Tino’s devastating toll of 232 deaths; 112 missing, 532 injured as of press time.

Cebu Congressman Duke Frasco defended his recent trip to London to support his wife Cristina’s Philippine delegation to a tourism and travel expo, in the face of administrative and criminal complaints filed against him and seven Cebu mayors from his district including his cousin Liloan Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco, before the Office of the Ombudsman–Visayas for leaving the country on the onslaught of Typhoon Tino.

At least 50 deaths were reported from his fifth district where he secured almost one billion pesos for flood control projects. As if this was not enough, Frasco faced backlash for distributing relief goods—including bottled water, instant coffee, and sardines—bearing his name and photo.

The Investigative Commission of Infrastructure, whose making I am sure passed the hands of a former chief justice who now serves as executive secretary, tightens secrecy rules on arrest warrants, the service of whom is being contested by three filings of unconstitutionality in the Supreme Court.

Last October, a senior high school teacher, John Barry T. Tayam, filed a pro se petition with the Supreme Court, urging it to declare EO 94 unconstitutional. On November 11, Attorneys Manuelito Luna, Jacinto Paras and Ferdinand Topacio also assailed the constitutionality of the executive order creating the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), asserting “it circumvents existing agencies already tasked with infrastructure oversight and could pave the way for further corruption under the guise of reform.”

Next, newly-restored chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee Panfilo Lacson attacked a peer Bato de la Rosa saying he cannot hide forever inside the Senate pertaining to his rumored arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, but a day had barely past, social media exposed that Lacson failed to disclose in his 2025 SALN a year-long stint as independent director of billionaire Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., where he declared his wealth soared from ₱58.7 million in 2022 to ₱244.9 million in 2025—a fourfold jump that unfolded while the Razon-owned conglomerate was securing government approvals for massive energy, water, and flood-control projects.

However, one blog cited that “under Republic Act 6713, all public officials are required to declare their assets, liabilities, and business interests, including any positions held in private corporations, whether compensated or not.” Significantly Lacson makes it appear that he is avoiding disclosure because for a company dealing directly with government approvals and public–private projects, his directorship position would have given him visibility and insider information into how Razon’s Prime billion-peso ventures were being pursued and managed.

The senator has attributed his sharp rise in assets to “legitimate and successful real-estate and trading ventures.” It would be remembered that in August 2017, Customs (BOC) Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon accused Lacson’s junior Pampi’s company, Bonjourno, of smuggling of billions of pesos worth of cement over 67 shipments by consistently undervaluing the imports by as much as 50%. He also questioned how a two-year old company with only a P20,000 capitalization could handle such large volumes of imports, suggesting the senator might be using his son as a “dummy”.

Third, the president may be losing a valuable adviser signaling the end of an era of unchecked corruption between him and his father, as Juan Ponce Enrile checks into a one-way intensive care unit, with survival unlikely if Senator Jinggoy Estrada is to be believed.

A former media personality, Jay Sonza, has already mistakenly announced his passing.

The Manila Times recalled “Enrile was the longtime defense minister of (Bongbong Marcos’) father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., serving in that post from January 1972, when martial law was declared, until February 1986, when he led a group of military officers who withdrew support to the latter following the fraud-marred snap presidential election.

Being an astute lawyer, Enrile has managed to skirt many cases of graft and corruption from that time up to recently when the Sandiganbayan’s Special Third Division acquitted him, together with his former chief-of-staff Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and several others on 15 counts of graft over the alleged misuse of PHP172 million of the former lawmaker’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2009.

This could be a bad omen for Marcos Jr., because Johnny, as he is fondly referred to publicly, may no longer defend him in his present predicament engulfed in corruption in historic proportions, as his chief presidential legal adviser.

Fourth, known for her insensitivity to public concerns, First Lady Lisa Araneta was chided publicly for proceeding with a concert by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Vocal Ensemble at the Goldenberg Mansion in the Malacañang complex in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino and during Typhoon Uwan. What was specified as an asynchrony decoupling from what her husband had earlier said, “we don’t just chill in the midst of calamity”.

Simultaneously, Vice President Sara Duterte was seen to be providing aid and funeral assistance in the Negros provinces affected by the typhoon, drawing asymmetrical perceptions in social media. Meanwhile, Congressman Kiko Barzaga has raised questions over reports that K-pop girl group “Blackpink” may be part of a Christmas event at Malacañang.

But what could finally be billed the blooper of the year is the headline that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is verifying a list containing the names of personalities alleged to be behind attempts to overthrow President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The list was revealed by an oft-discredited columnist Ramon Tulfo claiming that Vice President Sara Duterte, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, and former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson are financiers of a destabilization plot.

The personalities purportedly involved in the reported destabilization are Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, retired Gen. Romeo Poquiz, and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, among others.

Tulfo was quick to add in his FB post: “Don’t ask me where I got the info. I won’t tell even if you squeeze my balls,” to which Congressman Paolo Duterte responded with an advice, “If you want attention, you got it. But next time, try using truth instead of testosterone,” alluding to the discredited columnist’s reference to his testicles.

For his part, Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong said that in his dialogs with students, business groups, and civic organizations, he consistently promotes lawful and meaningful civic participation that strengthens democracy. He said the real threat to national stability does not come from those calling for accountability but from those who spread baseless accusations “in the guise of journalism,” which divide the people and erode trust in institutions.

Mike Defensor, who was also in Tulfo’s list, laughed off his inclusion in any destabilization list but admitted he was one of the organizers of the three-day “Peaceful Rally for Transparency” set from November 16 to 18. The former congressman added that the term “destabilization” is being used by the Marcos administration to discourage groundswell by ordinary citizens in forthcoming rallies:

In a media interview in Negros Occidental, Vice President Sara Duterte shrugged off Tulfo’s allegations as mere gossip, as they are “not backed by proof nor substantiated with evidence. “There is no destabilization. It is normal for citizens to express their sentiments. In truth, there is no destabilization. The government has gone insecure and fearsome because the intensity of the voice of the people is increasing.”

This time the chosen talking head is Ramon Tulfo, the oldest among the Tulfo brothers who never made it as a barangay official, unlike his sister Wanda Corazon Teo who became Tourism Secretary and his brothers Erwin and Raffy who are now senators.

Ops, I stand corrected. Former President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him Special Envoy for Public Diplomacy of the President to China in October 2018.

On March 2019, in his X (Twitter) account, Mon Tulfo called Filipino laborers as “lazy and slowpoke”, provoking a labor coalition to urge Duterte to fire him as not fit for the job. “As an alternative, he can still save face and just choose to resign,” said Nagkaisa Labor Coalition Chairperson Sonny Matula.

His brother, now Senator Raffy Tulfo announced over radio his disagreement:”Kuya Mon, bilang nakakatandang kapatid ko, (my older brother), if I were you, please apologize. I think that’s the right thing for you to do. As a matter of fact, yung mga construction worker na nilalait mo, sila ang dahilan kung bakit ang apelyidong Tulfo ay namamayagpag. (the workers that you are disparaging are the reason why we have been successful.) Sila ang kakampi natin dahil from the very start sila ang followers natin.” (They have been always on our side and have been our followers from the very start.)

But he stood his ground, in the same X account, he tweeted, “Why should I apologize for telling the truth that you’re basically lazy and a slowpoke? Does the truth hurt?”

Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo came to Tulfo’s defense saying the envoy was just expressing his personal opinion, and the position he was occupying was nominal with a salary of P1 a year. In May 2019, Duterte renewed his appointment for another six-month term.

His appointment and time in the role were largely noted for intentions to facilitate Chinese investments in Philippine agriculture and fisheries, specifically through “contract farming” on idle lands, though no concrete outcomes from this plan could be traced in the search results even with the assistance of artificial intelligence.

After his appointment lapsed, he became embroiled in controversy when he admitted to having received smuggled Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines and applying to be a potential distributor for the product, an action the Palace stated was as a private citizen, and no longer a government official. 

In a binge of disloyalty to his friend, on May 9, 2020 Tulfo said he cannot believe President Rodrigo Duterte, allowed ABS-CBN to shut down because its franchise expired, calling it an egregious blunder that could make the Philippines a “pariah” in the international community.

On May 19, 2022, a second cyber libel case was filed against him by Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, whom he accused as providing protection to Chinese citizens entering the airports in exchange for bribe money. Aguirre has denied the allegation at a Senate hearing in 2020 but Tulfo did not cease attacking the former justice secretary thereafter.

Apart from Aguirre, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea also sued Tulfo for cyber libel before the Manila RTC Branch 46 for allegedly maligning his name in his columns published in the Manila Times.

On top of this, private parties have also been seeking grievances against Tulfo’s irresponsible writings.

The Iglesia Ni Cristoand its members filed around 90 libel cases against Tulfo and Philippine Daily Inquirer editors after Tulfo wrote columns in 2017, asserting that the religious group maintained a large armory and private army.  While most were dismissed, at least three complaints were forwarded to court for trial in different locations (Tagum, Dasmariñas, and Bacoor) leading to an arrest warrant and booking procedures for Tulfo and the editors involved in 2018.

Writing for the tabloid Abante Tonite, he was sued for libel by a certain Michael C. Guy, stemming from a March 24, 2004 article where Tulfo accused the businessman of tax fraud and attempting to use influence with a government official. The Makati City Regional Trial Court convicted Tulfo of libel in 2010 and the conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, which ordered Tulfo to pay damages.

Mon Tulfo has also faced criticism and pushback from medical groups, such as the Philippine Medical Association, regarding his columns on professional fees and medical practices, though the exact nature of any legal cases beyond public complaints cannot be clarified in the snippets.

These cases highlight a recurring pattern of legal challenges against Tulfo stemming from his work as a long-time columnist and media personality, often involving accusations of unverified claims and defamation. 

In addition to the foregoing cases involving his work, Tulfo and actor Raymart Santiago swapped charges of physical injuries and grave coercion before Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office on May 8, 2012, over the brawl that occurred two days earlier at the arrival area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

From the reports, the columnist interfered in a private discussion being made by Raymart’s wife, Claudine Barretto while complaining about the delay of their family’s luggage, with a Cebu-Pacific ground personnel

As of this writing, the AFP through its spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla termed Tulfo’s list as unverified.

In short, fake news. And of the most vicious species!

To be continued.

   

Email: contact@asiancenturyph.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asiancenturyph/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsianCenturyPH

Substack:

Also read: