House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo revealed he was once an undocumented worker in the United States, addressing criticisms about his past as he prepares for a senatorial bid in 2025.
Speaking on his radio program Punto Asintado on Monday, Tulfo responded to accusations circulating on social media claiming he misrepresented his nationality by holding a US passport. He openly admitted being a “TNT” or tago nang tago, a term for Filipinos who evade immigration authorities in foreign countries.
“I became an undocumented alien to feed my children and support my wife,” Tulfo said, turning emotional during the broadcast. “If being a TNT is a crime that disqualifies me from serving our country, then I am guilty. But I did it to survive, not to break any Philippine law or deceive anyone.”
The controversy over his citizenship resurfaced after a letter allegedly from the US Embassy circulated online, stating that the US had revoked a passport issued to “Erick Sylvester Tulfo” in 2022, claiming it was issued to the lawmaker under questionable circumstances.
Tulfo clarified that his actions abroad were driven by financial hardship. “If I had money, I wouldn’t have left the Philippines,” he explained. “Every OFW has a reason for leaving—most of the time, it’s because of poverty.”
Critics have also raised questions about Tulfo’s stint in the US military from 1988 to 1996, which was discussed during a 2022 Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing. At the time, Tulfo admitted to being a naturalized US citizen before regaining his Filipino citizenship in 2022 to qualify for government service.
Tulfo dismissed the timing of the allegations, linking them to his high rankings in recent senatorial surveys. “Illegal aliens don’t parade their undocumented status, but I am not ashamed of what I went through,” he said.
Recent polls, including those by Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations, show Tulfo as a top contender for the 2025 senatorial elections, with administration candidates dominating the rankings.
