Another disqualification case vs. Erwin Tulfo junked

Metro Manila, Philippines - Both disqualification cases against senatorial candidate and ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo have been dismissed at the division level of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In an order shared by Comelec Chairman George Garcia on Thursday, March 13, the First Division dismissed the second petition against Tulfo for failing to comply with a procedural requirement.

The order, dated March 11, was signed by three members of the division — Presiding Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, and Commissioners Ernesto Maceda and Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal.

The division stated that the petitioner “failed to submit proof of service of the petition with complete annexes to the respondent or failed to execute an affidavit of service.”

This was also one of the reasons for the dismissal of the first petition against Tulfo and four other family members running for seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia earlier explained that respondents must always be furnished a copy of the petition as a requirement. He noted that while the poll body does not want to be overly strict, it cannot address the merits of a petition when basic requirements are not met.

Garcia said the petitioner could either file an appeal within five days or file another disqualification case.

The case against Tulfo stemmed from a petition filed by the group Graft-Free Philippines Foundation, disbarred lawyer Toto Causing (who was declared a nuisance candidate by the Commission), and a certain Diosdado Villar Calonge. They argued that Tulfo is still facing a 20-year disqualification from public office due to a libel conviction, has citizenship issues, and is part of a political dynasty, among other claims.

The first petition sought to disqualify five family members of Senator Raffy Tulfo:

- brothers Erwin and Ben who were frontrunners in pre-election senatorial surveys;

- sister and former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, who is vying for a congressional seat as the first nominee of Turismo party-list;

- and wife ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Jocelyn Pua-Tulfo, and their son, Quezon City 1st District Rep. Ralph Tulfo, who are seeking re-election

Lawyer Virgilio Garcia, a congressional candidate challenging Ralph’s re-election bid, said the Tulfos should be prohibited from running in the midterm elections with their status as a political dynasty and issues on citizenship.