Ballot 63:
Erwin Tulfo
Party-List Representative, ACT-CIS party
Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD)
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
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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