Ralph Tulfo Explains P6.7M Clubbing Controversy
RALPH TULFO – The Quezon City Second District Representative and Assistant Majority Leader has spoken out after a video of him spending millions at a Las Vegas nightclub went viral.
The video, recorded in December 2023, only became controversial recently amid corruption allegations involving several lawmakers, government officials, and contractors. Ralph is the son of well-known broadcaster and Senator Raffy Tulfo and ACT-CIS Party-List Representative Jocelyn Tulfo. His uncle, Senator Erwin Tulfo, currently serves as the vice chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is investigating irregularities in government flood control projects.
The viral clips show Ralph and his friends celebrating at Omnia, a high-end nightclub at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Separate videos captured Ralph paying and signing receipts for two massive bills: $42,605 (around PHP2.47 million) and $73,951.64 (around PHP4.29 million), totaling approximately PHP6.7 million.
The backlash intensified because Ralph personally shared these videos on his Instagram Stories, highlighting the lavish celebration. This prompted netizens to criticize him for what they saw as extravagant and wasteful behavior, especially given his position as a public official.
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, Ralph released an official statement on the Agenda news program. He asked for understanding from the public but firmly clarified that no government funds were used for his Las Vegas trip. According to Ralph, the trip was purely personal, and he and his friends split the total cost of their expenses, with his credit card being used to pay the bill.
“Una sa lahat, ako po ay humihingi ng pang-unawa para sa video na kumakalat online. Ang nasabing video ay kuha sa isang pribadong pagdiriwang noong Pasko 2023,” Ralph explained. “Maliban sa kapaskuhan at sa pagsalubong sa taong 2024, may natanggap na magandang balita ang aking mga kaibigan kaya naman kami po ay nagdiwang. Bagamat ginamit ang aking credit card, nag-ambagan naman po kaming lahat para sa kabuuang halaga ng ginastos.”
This incident marks the second time in 2025 that Ralph has asked for public understanding. Earlier in the year, he apologized for two separate incidents in which his vehicle illegally used the EDSA Busway, a lane reserved exclusively for public buses.