MANILA — Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday accused the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of corruption over its handling of cases involving a plastic surgeon allegedly linked to the deaths of patients, as well as alleged leakage of board examinations.
During a Senate budget hearing, Tulfo questioned why the license of a plastic surgeon allegedly involved in the deaths of two patients in 2017 and 2026 has yet to be revoked.
“Dalawa na napatay nito, actually tatlo pa eh yung isa bine-verify ko pa… Meron siyang isang pasyente noong 2017 na sinabay-sabay niyang surgery, plastic surgeon ito eh… Ayun namatay ang pasyente,” the lawmaker said.
“Hindi pa nadala itong mokong na ‘to, nitong 2026 pinatay naman niya… 'Yung mother ni Ronn Perez… Hindi niyo ginawan ng aksyon why? Kasi may lagay sa inyo,” Tulfo added.
The National Bureau of Investigation on September 11 opened an investigation into the death of Ronn Perez’s mother, who died after undergoing four cosmetic procedures in March 2026.
Fil-am pinaiimbestigahan ang pagkamatay ng ina matapos ang cosmetic procedures
Senator Joel Villanueva, who chaired the budget hearing, also expressed his disappointment over the case.
“Ako ang suggestion ko, i-surgery natin yung mga taga-PRC,” Villanueva said.
The PRC said a case had already been filed in 2021 regarding the 2017 incident and that it would launch an investigation into the recent case.
“As to the recent case po, we will do the investigation for motu propio. Yung nauna po meron ng case it was filed 2021,” PRC Chaiperson Atty. Charito Zamora said.
Tulfo questioned the length of time it took for the earlier case to be filed.
“2017 (yung case) tapos 2021 na-file? Three years? No. So ibig-sabihin ganun ka-inutil kayo sa PRC?” Tulfo responded.
“Huwag natin hintayin pang may mamatay ulit na pangatlo… Ano kaya lahat kayo diyan sa PRC… Magpa-procedure kayo lahat? Ako na mag-sponsor. Gamitin niyo yung credit card ko,” he added.
Meanwhile, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Francis Tolentino said the department would conduct an immediate inspection of the surgeon’s clinic on Thursday.
“We can do an immediate inspection tomorrow of the clinic and we’ll submit a report to this committee… If found violative of Article 128 of the Labor Code, kami na po ang magsasara,” Tolentino said.
ALLEGED BOARD EXAM LEAKS
Tulfo also raised another corruption allegation involving PRC regional directors, whom he accused of receiving money from review centers in exchange for allegedly leaking board examination questions.
“Itong mga Poncio Pilato mo diyan, madaling makikipagsabwatan sa mga review centers. Ngayon, magbibigay sila ng leakage… Don’t tell me you were born yesterday… binibigyan ng leakage ng mga alipores mo itong review centers,” Tulfo said.
Tulfo questioned why some regional directors have remained in their positions for decades despite the allegations.
“Yung iba sa kanila, mag-retire na lang, nandun pa rin, deka-dekada na. May kasabihan, familiarity breeds contempt,” he said.
The PRC said it was ready to receive any evidence supporting Tulfo’s allegations and file the necessary cases.
“Kung meron po kayong mga ebidensya or pruweba na meron po sila, eh pwede naman po natin silang kasuhan para po mapalitan sila. Sa ngayon po kasi, sa aming assessment sa commission, nagpe-perform po maganda po ang mga results,” Zamora explained.
“Huwag kayong magalit sa amin po,” she added.
“Galit ako sa sistema ninyo, not you personally…. Yung sistema niyo po napakabulok,” Tulfo said in response.
Tulfo suggested that PRC regional directors undergo regular reshuffling similar to other Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs).
Tolentino said the PRC can request such a change from the Civil Service Commission.
“Pwede po silang sumulat sa Civil Service Commission sa CESO Board na gawin ganun po yung standard pareho po nung iba,” he explained.