The Commission on Elections (Comelec) rejected the motion for reconsideration to disqualify senator-elect Erwin Tulfo, his brother Ben, and three additional members of the Tulfo family in the 2025 elections over insufficient evidence.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the Comelec en banc’s decision will be final and executory five days after the respondents and the petitioner receive the decision.
“The Commission en banc rejected this, and regardless of their options, they may appeal to the Supreme Court. However, the denial was based on insufficient evidence regarding citizenship and also on procedural technicalities,” Garcia said.
The petition for disqualification was filed in February by a certain Virgilio Garcia, who claimed the respondents being members of what he deemed as a political dynasty can be grounds for disqualification from the elections.
However, the Comelec First Division dismissed the petition due to failure to attach certificates of candidacy of the respondents and to verify if the petition was served to the respondents.
The other respondents in the case are ACT-CIS Rep. Jocelyn Pua-Tulfo, Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo, and Turismo party-list nominee Wanda Tulfo-Teo.
Garcia also said the petitioner failed to attach evidence proving the issue of citizenship.
“The respondent must be the one producing the evidence to strengthen the case, but the Commission en banc could not grant the [motion for reconsideration] because allegations must not remain as allegations only,” Garcia said.
