The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday dismissed the disqualification case filed against five members of the Tulfo family who are running for seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

According to the Comelec, the case was dismissed due to its insufficient form, as the petitioner failed to provide copies of the Tulfos’ Certificates of Candidacy (CoC).

“Upon scrutiny of the submitted petition and its attachments, it appears that the petitioner failed to provide the copies of respondents’ CoCs, which would have been vital to properly verify the necessary information alleged in the petition,” the six-page order read.

“Consequently, it cannot also be verified whether the petition was properly served to the respondents,” the order continued.

The petition sought to disqualify Rep. Erwin Tulfo, Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo, Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo-Teo and Ben Tulfo from running in the May 2025 elections.

Filed by lawyer Virgilio Garcia, the petition argued that the respondents being a part of what he considered a political dynasty was grounds for their disqualification.

Garcia pointed out that the five respondents were related to incumbent Senator Raffy Tulfo “within the first or second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.” Erwin, Ben, and Wanda are siblings, while Jocelyn is Raffy’s wife and Ralph is his son.

Erwin and Ben have been topping senatorial surveys, including Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations. Meanwhile, Wanda, Jocelyn and Ralph are running for congressional seats under the Turismo Partylist, ACT-CIS Party-ist, and in the second district of Quezon City, respectively.

The petitioner also highlighted that the “1987 Constitution expressly prohibits political dynasties.”

Erwin thanks Comelec

In response, ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo thanked the Comelec for its “just and fair decision.”

“The dismissal of the case due to the petitioner’s failure to comply with the requirements of the Comelec is proof of the integrity of our elections and the importance of following due process,” he said in Filipino.

“I stand with full confidence on the independence and impartiality of the Comelec,” he continued, also expressing his gratitude to his supporters for their trust.

He added, “First, I want to thank the Lord and the First Division of the Commission on Elections for their rightful and fair decision not to disqualify me as a candidate in the May 2025 senatorial race.”

As a public servant, he vowed to remain true to his duty to serve with integrity, stating, “This decision allows me to focus more on serving our fellow citizens and advancing their welfare in Congress.”