Broadcaster and columnist Ramon “Mon” Tulfo has spoken up regarding online speculation that his younger brother, Senator Raffy Tulfo, was the unnamed lawmaker involved in Vivamax actress Chelsea Ylore’s claim that a senator offered her a ₱250,000 “tip” in exchange for an indecent proposal.
Ylore’s revelation sparked widespread guessing on social media after she hinted that the senator she referred to has an “R” in his first name and an “F” in his surname. The actress, however, later clarified that the public was “guessing wrong,” though that did little to stop speculations.
On Facebook, Mon Tulfo said the rumor made him laugh, while stressing that he did not believe the story involved his brother.
“Natatawa ako sa balitang kumakalat… na isang senador ay nag-offer ng indecent proposal sa isang artista (kuno) ng 250K para bembangin ito. May mga haka-haka na ang kapatid kong si Raffy ang tinutukoy,” he wrote.
He added that it was unlikely for Raffy to be involved in such an issue because, in his words, “takusa (takot sa asawa) ang kapatid ko kay Jocelyn.” Raffy is married to ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo.
Nonetheless, Mon said that even if the rumor were true, he still sees no problem with it.
“Pero pagpalagay na natin na totoo: Eh, ano ngayon kung nambabae siya?”
He went further, saying the only thing that would embarrass him is if his brother were romantically involved with a man.
“Ang nakakahiya ay kung nanlalake ang kapatid ko gaya ng isang lalakeng mambabatas na mahilig sa basketbolista.”
Mon reiterated that Raffy is known to be generous, and that giving away large sums of money is nothing unusual for him.
“Kilalang galante si Raffy. Nakakapamigay siya ng daan-daang libo sa kanyang programang Raffy Tulfo In Action… Sa kanyang bulsa nanggagaling ang pera pinamimigay niya. Kasing galante siya ni Willie Revillame.”
He also pointed out that Raffy and his wife were already wealthy long before entering politics.
“Bago pa man naging senador si Raffy at congresswoman si Jocelyn ay mayaman na silang mag-asawa. In fact, ang kanilang combined SALN ay ₱1 billion.”
Mon contrasted this with other politicians who declare much smaller assets, saying: “Ikumpara mo ang kanilang SAL-N na ₱1 billion sa mga SAL-N ng ibang mga pulitiko na maliit na halaga ang dineklara. Don’t you appreciate their honesty?”
To end his post, Mon joked that he would be a more believable suspect than Raffy.
“Kung ako pa ang napabalita na nag-offer ng indecent proposal, kapani-paniwala pa.”
As of this writing, Senator Raffy Tulfo has not released any statement regarding the issue.
