Ballot 62:
Bienvenido “Ben” Tulfo
Broadcaster, CEO - Bitag Media Unlimited, Inc.
Independent
Age: 69 (born March 15, 1955)
Highest educational attainment: *Bachelor’s degree in Journalism
Endorsed by: None yet
Tulfo says he wants to fix the country’s “broken system,” focusing on food, health, jobs, peace and order, and corruption to uplift the country’s voiceless and faceless.
*for further verification
**VERA Files contacted Tulfo’s team to learn more about his stances and personal information. Tulfo called our reporter and gave an overview of his plans but did not give consent to publish the discussion. The information above are from publicly available sources.
Field of Expertise
Issues and Controversies
Indicted with three counts of cyber libel in 2022 following a complaint by Iloilo lawyer Kazper Vic Bermejo for exposing the latter to public ridicule in his Bitag segment
- Tulfo’s Bitag Media Unlimited, Inc. was ordered by the Commission on Audit to pay back the P60 million it received from the Philippine Television Network 4 for airing ads commissioned by the Department of Tourism (then led by his sister, Wanda Tulfo Teo) in Kilos Pronto, a blocktime program in the network, without a Memorandum of Agreement
- Traded barbs with expelled representative Arnolfo Teves of Negros Oriental after the congressman’s son was identified for repeatedly punching a security guard in a gated village in Parañaque City
- Bashed singer Regine Velasquez for criticizing then Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. for downplaying the harvesting of giant clams in Scarborough Shoal by Chinese fishermen
- Called out by Frankie Pangilinan, daughter of Sen. Francis Pangilinan and actress Sharon Cuneta, for perpetuating rape culture
Family Members in Government
Ramon S. Tulfo Sr.
Relationship: Father
Position/s held:
- Colonel, Philippine Constabulary (1940s to 1970)
Ramon Tulfo
Relationship: Brother
Position/s held:
- Special Envoy for Public Diplomacy to China (October 2018 - October 2019)
Erwin Tulfo
Relationship: Brother
Position/s held:
- Representative - Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list (2022 - present)
Raffy Tulfo
Relationship: Brother
Position/s held:
- Senator (2022 - present)
Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo
Relationship: Sister
Position/s held:
- Secretary - Department of Tourism (2016 - 2018)
Roberto Teo
Relationship: Brother-in-law
Position/s held:
- Director - Travel and Tours Services Sector, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (2014 - 2018)
Jocelyn Pua Tulfo
Relationship: Sister-in-law
Position/s held:
- Representative - Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list (2019 - present)
Ralph Wendel Tulfo
Relationship: Nephew
Position/s held:
- Representative - Quezon City, second district (2022 - present)
Where this candidate stands on top 5 concerns of the Filipino voter
- Vows to ease red tape and restrictive policies for entrepreneurs and business owners
- Wants to empower the public by creating a watchdog where citizens can report corrupt activities by government officials
- Believes that congressmen need to be more accountable to the people regarding excess funds
- Rejects the political dynasty tag and prefers to leave the decision up to the voters
- Believes that China is a bully for its continued encroachment in the West Philippine Sea and for not abiding by international maritime law
- Believes that solving the drug problem in the country will involve both rehabilitating drug users and prosecuting those behind drug operations
- No public discussions yet
Interesting Facts
- Born in Marawi City and declared as ‘honorable son of Marawi’ through a municipal order last September 2024
- Proficient in different martial arts and owns a food extrusion technology company