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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Comelec dismisses DQ case vs senator-elect Tulfo

Comelec dismisses DQ case vs senator-elect Tulfo

Published May 23, 2025 11:26 am

At A Glance

  • ​The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed the disqualification case against Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo.
​The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed the disqualification case against Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo.
According to Comelec Second Division's 25-page resolution promulgated on May 22, the petition filed by disbarred lawyer Berteni Causing to disqualify and nullify the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Tulfo is dismissed for "improperly combin[ing] in a single pleading grounds" his petitions against him.
The resolution read that such defect "warrants the dismissal of the instant petition".
On March 28, Causing, along with Graft-Free Philippines Foundation, Inc., sought Tulfo's disqualification before the poll body over the following:
1. His conviction of a crime, particularly libel, involving moral turpitude
2. His alleged non-Filipino citizenship because he has a United States (US) passport
3. His being part of a political dynasty, thus denying others equal access to public service
4. His failure to provide academic qualification
On April 14, Tulfo's camp responded to the petition. His camp said:
1. Tulfo already served his punishment over his libel conviction by paying his fines
2. The petitioner did not submit any substantial proof that Tulfo is not a Filipino citizen or has renounced his Filipino citizenship
3. Just because the Tulfos are popular does not mean that they, particularly Erwin, are depriving others equal access to public service; and that the Constitution does not provide a working provision against political dynasties
4. There is no academic qualification needed to run for senator
There were also other bases for the junking of the DQ case.
Comelec said  that at the very onset, the petition would have already been dismissed because "it is imperative to settle the procedural issues raised by respondents alleging petitioners' failure to observe certain requirements under the rules."
The camp of Tulfo, currently ACT-CIS Party-list representative, asserted Causing and his co-petitioner did not provide authentic documentary evidence against Tulfo.
"...Such failure warrants the outright dismissal of the petition for insufficiency in form," the resolution read.
Comelec also dismissed the disqualification case against Tulfo because he already served his penalty by paying his fines.
Comelec said Tulfo could not also be dismissed because the grounds for disqualification cited by the petitioners against him were not included in the Sections 12 and 68 of the Omnibus Elections Code (OEC), which is the basis for the disqualification of a senatorial candidate.
The petitioners' grounds to disqualify Tulo are not even under the Section 40 of the Local Government Code, the resolution read.
"Thus, the issues raised by petitioners against respondent...do not fall within the exclusive grounds for his disqualification as a candidate for Senator under Section 12 and 68 of the OEC," it said.
"In view of multiple grounds already established for the dismissal of the petition, the other matters and issues raised by the parties no longer merit any consideration," it added.
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