Comelec halts proclamation of Erwin Tulfo as ACT-CIS party-list nominee due to DQ case

FILE PHOTO: Former DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday suspended the proclamation of Erwin Tulfo as a nominee of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list amid a disqualification case filed against the former social welfare chief.

“In its Regular Meeting today, March 1, 2023, the Commission on Elections en banc resolved to suspend the proclamation of Mr. Erwin P. Tulfo, nominee next-in-line of ACT-CIS Paty-List Group in view of the filing of a Petition for Disqualification against him on 28 February 2023,” the poll body said in a statement.

According to the Comelec, a certain Atty. Moises Tolentino Jr. sought Tulfo’s disqualification on allegations pertaining to the “question of citizenship” and “conviction by final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude.”

Comelec explained that under Section 8,  Rule 5 of Comelec Resolution No. 9366, a nominee’s proclamation may be suspended “if the evidence in the Petition for Disqualification is strong and such remains unresolved.”

Tulfo’s disqualification case is scheduled to be raffled to a division for the conduct of hearings on March 6.

To recall, Jeffrey Soriano had resigned as representative of the ACT-CIS Party-list at the House of Representatives, prompting the group to nominate his replacement. Among the nominees was Tulfo.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Tulfo twice as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. But the Commission on Appointments never confirmed Tulfo’s appointments to the post amid his libel conviction, as well as questions over his citizenship, among others.

KGA