Senator Chiwapap denies iLaw and People's Party allegations that his close associates paid to buy Senate seats, admits relationship with Tangmo, and asserts that as a single man, he has done nothing wrong.
At 12:30 p.m. on 1 Sep 2026 at the Parliament, Senator Chiwapap Chiwatham, chairman of the Senate's Natural Resources and Environment Committee, addressed accusations made during the forum “Opposition Leaders on Thai Politics in a Confidence Crisis: Truths Society Demands.” He said the forum claimed to seek justice but denied fairness to others, even dragging in unrelated third parties and his saddle dog, "Chao Uang," who was unfairly implicated. He used the platform to clarify that he is confident in his qualifications for Senate election, having been chief inspector at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment at a high level (C10). He resigned to run for the Senate among hundreds of environmental candidates and had the capability to be elected without collusion.
Senator Chiwapap played two clips from the forum. The first involved talk about hiring a gunman from Uthai Thani province; the second showed him with Ms. Runratthikan Phokrai (Tangmo), accompanied by participants making suggestive sounds. Regarding the first clip, he questioned why the gunman was said to be from Uthai Thani and not elsewhere, affirming he is from Bang Rachan lineage, a man of honor who would never hire a gunman. Sing Buri province is peaceful, and such claims harm its reputation. He stressed that he is a man of integrity who does not engage in such acts, which he described as cowardly. He called for investigation into the source of these allegations and any related police reports or case progress, emphasizing that spreading such claims is defamatory and damages the entire province.
Admits Relationship with Tangmo
Senator Chiwapap stated that regarding the clip about his relationship with Ms. Tangmo, they have known each other for two years, since before her mother passed away, who entrusted him to look after her. He openly admits to currently being in a relationship with Tangmo, which is not shameful since he is single and has never hidden it; people in Sing Buri are aware. Therefore, linking their relationship to allegations of paying Senate candidates or using a private company for payments is untrue. The private company has been harmed, having had business contracts delayed due to claims by MP Chayaphol Sathondee of Bangkok from the People's Party, alleging the company was used for payments connected to him. He insisted these allegations are false, questioning whether any financial audits or phone records exist. Although he is friends with the company's recent management, he appointed Tangmo and the company's executives as honorary advisors to the committee due to their expertise, not as payment for any collusion.
Counter-accuses iLaw of Hosting Dinner for Senate Candidates
Senator Chiwapap also addressed iLaw's claim of candidate collusion, stating he has photos of iLaw contacting the restaurant "Baan Suan Mae La Karong" to hold an event for Senate candidates, including serving drinks and steamed buns. He questioned whether this was a meal event and who paid, noting attendees did not have to pay. He asked if what iLaw did was illegal and why others doing similar acts are labeled wrong. He revealed he was approached to lead the environmental group and to run for Sing Buri provincial governor under the Orange Party but declined. He mentioned his involvement in a 3,000-rai forest encroachment case in Ratchaburi linked to the mother of the Orange Party leader, with some cases dropped unofficially but one proceeding to court, where he will testify on 8 Oct. He believes his past interactions and negotiations with these people will not cause them to bear grudges.
Angry Over Use of Suggestive Sounds in Relationship Clip
"Today, the justice process you claim to build for the nation must also ensure fairness for others. In such a large forum, must there be moaning and suggestive sounds accompanying the images? In investigations, you must be professionally thorough because what you have done is amateurish, harming others by making baseless links, crossing the line. Most importantly, linking me to senior figures in the Bhumjaithai Party is unfounded; if such evidence existed, it would already be public. Instead, you used my dog, Chao Uang, as a link to falsely implicate me. I demand investigations, especially by the Election Commission, into the witnesses' identities who gave such information. From my preliminary checks, I suspect these are Senate candidates who had conflicts with me, including cases of borrowed money they failed to repay," said Senator Chiwapap. Senator Chiwapap concluded his statement.