Ballot 63:
Erwin Tulfo
Party-List Representative, ACT-CIS party
Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD)
By VERA Files
|
Feb 10, 2025
|
1-minute read
Age: 61 (born Aug. 10, 1963)
Highest educational attainment: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration- Special Degree program, University of the East
Endorsed by: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas
Frontrunner Tulfo vows to continue the Marcos administration’s platforms in addressing poverty, inflation and unemployment; seeks to improve PhilHealth services and provide better benefits for senior citizens and solo parents.
Field of Expertise
Issues and Controversies
- Faced identity fraud allegations and admitted he was an undocumented worker in the U.S. in the 80s; reported to have acquired American citizenship fraudulently in 1988 and renounced it in 2022 following his appointment as Social Welfare secretary
- Appointment as secretary of DSWD was bypassed twice due to his citizenship issues and libel conviction
- In 2018, the Senate investigated Tulfo and his brother Ben and sister Wanda (then tourism secretary) after the Commission of Audit cited the lack of a memorandum of agreement and conflict of interest in a P120 million advertising deal between the Department of Tourism and the Philippines Television Network 4 (PTV 4)’s show Kilos Pronto, a program hosted by Tulfo and produced by his brother, Ben; the Ombudsman found no graft in the deal in 2021
- Convicted of four counts of libel in 2008 for publishing four columns accusing a Bureau of Customs official of corruption
- Declared ‘persona non grata’ in 2019 by the Philippine Military Academy alumni for insulting former DSWD chief Rolando Bautista, a retired Army lieutenant general, after the latter declined a live interview on Tulfo’s program
- Drew heavy criticism for interfering in negotiations between police and hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza during the 2010 Manila hostage crisis that resulted in the death of nine people, including seven tourists from Hong Kong
Read More
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)
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
- Pledges to lower the price of food
- Plans to revive the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, a capacity-building program that grants business capital and offers vocational classes to indigents
- Wants to offer benefits for the middle class, push for higher wages, and provide retirement benefits for private-sector workers
- Believes political dynasties are acceptable in government, citing the absence of a law prohibiting it; prefers to leave the choice to the voters
- Supports driving out illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs)
- Believes in penalizing local government officials who practice discrimination or favoritism in giving out cash and relief assistance or ‘ayuda’
- Suggests bringing up China’s unlawful actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) before the United National General Assembly
- Believes the Marcos administration should accept U.S. offer to escort future resupply missions of the Philippine Coast Guard to BRP Sierra Madre in the WPS
- Believes a review of the pros and cons of rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC) is necessary
- Has questioned the jurisdiction of the ICC over the Duterte drug war probe
- Pushes for the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience and for the ease of issuing permits for housing and resettlement projects in disaster-affected areas
Interesting Facts
- Erwin’s brother Ben is also seeking a Senate seat, while Wanda Tulfo Teo (sister), Robert Wren Tulfo Teo (nephew), Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo (sister-in-law), and Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo (nephew) are running for seats in the House. If elected, they will join incumbent Sen. Raffy Tulfo in the 20th Congress
- Hosted a public service TV show along with brothers Ben and Raffy, collectively known as T3
- Tulfo formed a close relationship with President Bongbong Marcos during his stint as a news anchor on PTV