ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo believes that his lofty ratings figures are the reason why vloggers have turned him into their punching bag.

Tulfo, the deputy majority leader for communications in the House of Representatives, addressed the criticisms against him by online personalities during a recent episode of his radio program Punto Asintado Reload. 

"Doon po sa mga tumitira na vlogger, mga basher, number one po ako [sa surveys] since last year pa, June (About the vloggers and basher who have been targeting me, I've been number one in the surveys since June of last year)," said Tulfo, a senatorial aspirant. 

He went on to mention the survey entities where he claimed to be top-ranked as far as the upcoming Senate race is concerned. 

"Lahat po ng survey--Pulse Asia, SWS (Social Weather Stations), Tangere, Laylo. Lahat po, Octa Research. Lahat po ng nagso-survey, number one po ako."

(All of the surveys--Pulse Asia, SWS, Tangere, Laylo. All of them, even Octa Research. I'm number one based on all pollsters.)

Recently, Tulfo's alleged American citizenship was raised by vloggers and content creators. It was the same issue that hounded him during his days as Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary.

The broadcaster-solon responded to this by saying that while he did work in the United States (US) for a decade--and even brought his relatives there--he never violated Philippine laws.

Tulfo said his late mother had warned him about being subjected to criticisms once he joined politics.

"Sinabi ko na sa nanay ko pero ang nanay ko po nalungkot nung nabubuhay pa nanay ko. Sabi niya, 'Hindi nakakatuwa yan,' sabi ko bakit? 'Kasi anak, titirahin ka. Huhubaran ka talaga din pagdating sa eleksyon,'" he shared.

(I told my mother about it when she was still alive, but she was saddened. She said, 'That is not amusing,' and I asked her why. 'Because son, they will attack you. They will really strip you down when it comes to the elections.')

"Ito nga ho, nagkatotoo na yung sinabi na yun ng aking ina (And here it is, what my mother said has come true)," Tulfo said.

Tulfo is part of the administration-back Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Senate slate.

The next mid-term elections will take place this May.