DESPITE THE PERCEPTION that the Tulfos are an emerging political dynasty, journalist Erwin Tulfo has topped the survey for probable senatorial bets in 2025.
Erwin’s brother Raffy is a senator, his sister-in-law Jocelyn (wife of Raffy) is an ACT-CIS representative, and his nephew Ralph is a congressman representing Quezon City’s 2nd District.
“Maybe a dynasty, if you’re not doing anything or just sitting there and doing nothing, staring at the ceiling. But if you do something and perform, people notice that. Let them decide. Now if it’s a dynasty and they don’t like you there anymore, I think they will not vote for you,” said Erwin who was President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s social welfare secretary before and now sits at the House of Representatives as a substitute nominee of ACT-CIS, which topped the party-list race in the 2022 elections.
I must admit that I used to abhor political dynasties.
But later, I realized that just like cholesterol there are good and there are bad political dynasties.
Cong Erwin put it succinctly: “If we’re not working, then don’t vote for that politician, don’t vote for whoever he is if he is not performing. But if he’s performing, then why not, right? We’ll just show them, there’s a difference.”
Erwin’s nomination was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments due to citizenship issues. However, he admitted to American citizenship from 1986 and the Wikipedia said that he served in the United States Army from 1988 to 1992.
He claimed that he had renounced his American citizenship in early 2022.
In 2005, Erwin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of the East (UE) — a stone’s throw away from my alma mater Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU).
He hosted his public service brand Mission X, which eventually evolved into the Erwin Tulfo Action Center.
Based on the results of the national survey of Oculum Research and Analytics Philippines conducted from July 17 to 31, 2023 Erwin Tulfo obtained the highest voter preference among potential candidates in the 2025 midterm senatorial elections.
He was the choice of 50% of respondents all over the country.
Here’s the list of voters preferences for senator in 2025, according to the Oculum national survey:
- Erwin Tulfo
- Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
- Rodrigo Duterte
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa
- Panfilo “Ping” Lacson
- Vico Sotto
- Willie Revillame
- Willie Ong
- Lito Lapid
- Manny Villar
- Manny Pacquiao
- Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
- Isko Moreno Domagoso
- Maria Imelda “Imee” Marcos
- Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go
- Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II
- Mar Roxas II
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Jejomar “Jojo” Binay
- Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo
- Herbert Bautista
- Richard “Dick” Gordon
- Herminio “Harry” Roque
Will Erwin join his brother Raffy in the Senate in 2025?
We can never tell.
But as someone once said: “We can’t fight destiny.”
(ai/mnm)
