Salvador Panelo Criticizes Sen. Erwin Tulfo over 'Bending the Law' Remarks in Flood Control Investigation

Former presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo has sharply criticized Senator Erwin Tulfo for his controversial statement during a Senate hearing on the ongoing flood control scandal. Tulfo reportedly claimed that "sometimes you have to bend the law" to fulfill the public’s expectations for restitution, prompting Panelo to denounce the senator as a "classic example of a lawmaker who is a lawbreaker."

Panelo argued that "bending the rules means violating and circumventing them," emphasizing that if a law poses an obstacle, legislators should work to amend or replace it rather than break it. In a message to Abogado.com.ph, Panelo said, "He doesn’t know his job as a lawmaker."

The remarks came during a Tuesday Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, where Tulfo emphasized the public’s call for restitution as paramount, even suggesting that legal technicalities should not hinder justice. While discussing whether restitution is a requirement for admission into the Witness Protection Program (WPP), Tulfo stated, "Hindi po batas ang pinag uusapan, wala po tayo pakialam sa batas na ‘yan, sometimes you have to bend the law!"

The exchange highlights differing perspectives on the tension between adhering strictly to legal frameworks and responding to public demands amid a high-profile government inquiry.