ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo admitted on Monday that he was once a TNT (tago nang tago) or an undocumented immigrant in the United States, where he worked for at least ten years. His admission follows allegations that he used a fraudulent identity to obtain American citizenship.

“If it’s because of me being then a TNT [or] being an undocumented alien [that] I’m not allowed to serve, I'm not allowed to work in our country, which I only did to feed my children, to help them overcome hardship, if you think that's my fault, then I'm guilty,” Tulfo said in Filipino during a radio program shared on his official Facebook page.

Identity fraud allegations

Tulfo faces intense scrutiny over allegations of identity theft in the US. A document purportedly from the US Embassy alleges that Tulfo used the identity of "Erich Sylvester Tulfo" to acquire an American passport.

The letter, dated 11 October 2022, states: “An investigation revealed that Erich Sylvester Tulfo, born on 30 December, 1965, in Hawaii is not your true identity. Evidence suggests that you are Erwin Teshiba Tulfo, born on 10 August, 1963, in Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines.”

The controversy mirrors issues that surfaced in 2022 when the Commission on Appointments (CA) bypassed Tulfo’s ad-interim appointment as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development due to concerns over his citizenship and a libel conviction.

From journalist to politician

Tulfo, a former broadcast journalist known for his tough-talking yet empathetic style, admitted to becoming an American citizen in the late 1980s but said he renounced it before assuming his role as DSWD chief. Despite this, his appointment was ultimately blocked by the CA. Tulfo later joined the House of Representatives as a replacement for ACT-CIS Rep. Jeffrey Soriano.

During the radio interview, Tulfo explained that he went to the US in 1986 on a tourist visa and took on various jobs to support his family.

"If I had money, I wouldn't have gone. I wouldn't have left. Whoever it is, those OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), if they have money, will they leave? No," Tulfo said emotionally.

“I didn't do anything wrong. I went to America to feed [and provide for the studies] of my children. That's what I did, that's the only mistake that I did. I was a TNT," he added.

Despite his admission, Tulfo did not directly address the allegations of faking his US citizenship under the name "Erich Sylvester Tulfo."

Tulfo believes the attacks on his credibility are politically motivated, citing his strong performance in recent surveys. As of December, he leads Pulse Asia and Social Weather Surveys polls, surpassing veteran senators such as Bong Revilla and Pia Cayetano.