The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has dismissed a petition seeking to disqualify five members of the Tulfo family, who are running for different positions in the upcoming May midterm elections.
Based on the resolution of COMELEC’s First Division, the petition was dismissed for insufficiency in form.
It further stated that the petitioner failed to provide copies of the respondents’ Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) which were vital in verifying the information alleged in the petition.
“…failure to comply with the requirement warrants the dismissal of the petition. In view of the foregoing the commission (First Division) hereby resolves to dismiss the instant petition,” the resolution stated.
The petition targeted Senator Raffy Tulfo’s siblings, including former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo and broadcaster Ben Tulfo, who are both running for the Senate and Former Tourism Secretary Wanda-Tulfo Teo, who is vying for a congressional seat.
Senator Tulfo’s wife, Representative Jocelyn Pua-Tulfo, and son, Representative Ralph Tulfo, were also included in the petition.
Virgilio Garcia, a congressional aspirant challenging Ralph Tulfo’s reelection bid, filed the petition, stating that the Tulfos should be disqualified due to their status as a political dynasty and issues with citizenship.
COMELEC Chairman George Garcia noted that the petitioners can still file a motion for reconsideration before the en banc.
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.