Tulfo newest party-list congressman

MANILA, Philippines — Former social welfare secretary Erwin Tulfo will be joining the ranks of 312 members of the House of Representatives after he took his oath last night as one of the three nominees of party-list ACT-CIS.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe confirmed to reporters covering the chamber that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has informed the House leadership about the dismissal of the disqualification complaint against Tulfo.

“We were informed by the Comelec that the case has been dismissed. So we can now proceed with the oath-taking,” the Zamboanga City congressman said of the former journalist, who was rejected by the Commission on Appointments as social welfare secretary over issues surrounding his United States citizenship and libel conviction.

House secretary-general Reginald Velasco echoed Dalipe’s pronouncements, noting that Tulfo is now considered an “official nominee” of the ACT-CIS party-list, replacing Jeffrey Soriano, who resigned to give way to the former broadcast journalist.

“The oath-taking is just a formality, which is one of our requirements. Anyway, we have been assured by the Comelec and their letter is forthcoming. We will go ahead with the oath-taking,” Velasco said.

Former Valenzuela City congressman Rex Gatchalian replaced Tulfo in the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Another nominee of party-list ACT-CIS is Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo, wife of Sen. Raffy Tulfo. The third nominee is Edvic Go Yap, brother of Rep. Eric Go Yap, himself a former ACT-CIS congressman who now represents the Benguet district.

Last March, the Comelec suspended the proclamation of Tulfo after a disqualification case was filed against him by lawyer Moises Tolentino on Feb. 28. The case was later raffled to one of the poll body’s two divisions.