MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed with finality the disqualification complaints filed against incoming senator Erwin Tulfo.
In a seven-page resolution, the Comelec said the motion for reconsideration filed by Toto Bunyog Causing and Graft-free Philippines Foundation Inc. was rejected for having no merit.
“The Commission en banc finds it unnecessary to discuss the same, considering that no merit has been found in any of the arguments raised in this Motion for Reconsideration,” the resolution read.
Tulfo was slapped with disqualification cases during the election period due to his alleged US citizenship, and violation of the equal access to opportunities for public service.
According to the Comelec, “lack of Philippine citizenship, violation of the equal access clause and the political dynasty prohibition, and failure to meet academic qualifications are not grounds for disqualification.”
The Comelec en banc also upheld a decision rejecting a petition for disqualification against five members of the Tulfo family who sought seats in the Senate and House of Representatives.
The petition was filed by lawyer Virgilio Garcia, who had questioned the ruling of the Comelec First Division in March denying the disqualification petition against ACT-CIS representative Erwin Tulfo, broadcast journalist Ben Tulfo, ACT-CIS representative Jocelyn Pua-Tulfo, Quezon City 2nd District representative Ralph Tulfo, and former Tourism secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo, the nominee of the Turismo party-list in the recent May 12 polls.
Garcia earlier said the Tulfo candidacies constituted a political dynasty, which is prohibited under the 1987 Constitution. His petition was dismissed due to his alleged failure to submit all the required documents, including the respondents’ certificates of candidacy (COC).
“Procedural rules are not to be disdained as mere technicalities that may be ignored at will to suit the convenience of a party. They are fundamental to the orderly administration of justice and are particularly vital in election cases, where the prompt and fair resolution of disputes is imperative,” Comelec stated./PN
