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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ben Tulfo on citizenship issue: Prove I'm not Pinoy, or else shut up

Ben Tulfo on citizenship issue: Prove I'm not Pinoy, or else shut up

Published Feb 18, 2025 12:19 pm

At A Glance

  • Senatorial candidate and popular broadcaster Ben Tulfo is unfazed by the issues that critics are hurling at him, including his alleged questionable citizenship.

FB_IMG_1739875452732.jpgBen Tulfo (Facebook)

Senatorial candidate and popular broadcaster Ben Tulfo is unfazed by the issues that critics are hurling at him, including his alleged questionable citizenship.

"Patungkol naman doon sa sinasabing citizenship, Pilipino ako (Regarding the citizenship issue, I'm a Filipino)," Tulfo said in a statement Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Tulfo, who has consistently showed strong numbers in pre-election surveys, threw down the gauntlet to his detractors.

"Tulungan ko pa kayo. Dalhin ko kayo kung saan. Punta tayo ng America. Punta tayo ng States. Punta tayo ng Russia. Punta tayo ng China. Patunayan niyo na hindi ako Pilipino. Kung hindi niyo kayang patunayan, puro haka-haka, this is what I’ll tell you. Read my lips: Shut up," he said.

(I'll even help you. I'll take you wherever. Let's go to America. Let's go to the States. Let's go to Russia. Let's go to China. Prove that I'm not Filipino. If you're unable to prove it, and it's all rumor, this is what I’ll tell you. Read my lips: Shut up.)

"May kasabihan, ‘pag ang puno hitik sa bunga, binabato. Niyuyugyog. Pinupukulan ng mga taong siguro wala rin silang magawa. O kaya namumuna lang. Siguro may punto sila. Or siguro sila iyong best example ng mga kengkoy, kumag, at kolokoy," Tulfo said.

(There's a saying, if a tree is fruit-bearing, it gets pelted with stone. It gets shaken. It gets pelted by people who have nothing better to do. Except to crticize. Maybe they have a point. Or maybe, they are the best examples of kengkoy, kumag, and kolokoy.)

Tulfo also addressed in the same statement the political dynasty issue that's being linked to his family name.

This, after he and his brother, fellow senatorial aspirant, ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo; ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo; Quezon City 2nd district Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo; and Turismo Party-list first nominee Wanda Tulfo-Teo became the subjects of a disqualification case filed before Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Like his brother in the House of Representatives, Tulfo acknowledged the lack of an enabling law that would make the constitutional provision against political dynasties implementable.

"So para sa akin, hangga’t walang malinaw na batas, enabling law, sino ang mag-i-implement niyan? For now, I trust the wisdom of the [Comelec],"

(So for me, until there's no clear law, an enabling law, who will implement that? For now, I trust the wisdom of the Comelec.)

"Pero entitled din naman iyong kumokontra sa mga dynasty, dynasty. Or being accused. Siguro dito sa parteng ito, dahil tutal, kung ako ay papalarin, loloobin ng Poong Maykapal na ako ay pumasok sa Senado, sisilipin ko na lang yan," Tulfo said.

(But those against dynasties are entitled to oppose it. Or being accused. Maybe for this part, if I'm fortunate, if God allows it and I get to enter the Senate, I will just look into it.)

Related Tags

Ben Tulfo Erwin Tulfo matalinong boto 2025 CITIZENSHIP political dynasty
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