A lawyer has lodged a quo warranto petition against Senator Erwin Tulfo, questioning his eligibility to hold public office over alleged issues surrounding his citizenship.
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) Deputy Secretary Atty. Eleanor Francisco-Anunciacion confirmed that the petition, filed by lawyer Berteni Cataluna Causing on July 15, contests Tulfo’s qualification to serve as senator based on claims that he previously held U.S. citizenship.
In a statement, Tulfo said he is aware of the case and prepared to face it head-on. “Aware naman na po tayo na may nakabinbin na ganito sa SET at handa po tayong harapin ito,” he said.
Tulfo also pointed out that the same complainant had repeatedly filed similar disqualification cases against him in the past. “Matatandaang kaparehong tao rin po, na isang disbarred lawyer, ang paulit-ulit na nag-file ng disqualification case laban sa akin noong panahon ng kampanya kaya di na rin po tayo nagulat,” he added, noting that all previous cases had been dismissed.
Earlier this year, Causing and the Graft-Free Philippines Foundation Inc. filed a separate disqualification case before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) raising similar allegations. The Comelec Second Division dismissed that case, ruling that questions over Tulfo’s citizenship should have been addressed through a petition for cancellation instead.
