THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expected to conduct a full-blown hearing on the disqualification case filed against the Tulfo candidates in the May 2025 polls.
In an interview, Comelec Chairman George Garcia yesterday said he has been informed that the Commission’s 1st Division will conduct a hearing on the petition filed by lawyer Virgilio Garcia.
“They expressed the opinion that they will be calling for a full-blown hearing on this matter,” said Garcia.
He said the Comelec 1st Division is determined to swiftly act on the petition filed earlier in the week.
“They will now be issuing, I think today or the latest by tomorrow, the necessary summons,” the Comelec chief added.
In a 19-page petition, Virgilio Garcia asked the Comelec to disqualify senatorial candidates Erwin and Ben Tulfo, party-list nominees Jocelyn Pua-Tulfo (ACT-CIS) and Wanda Tulfo-Teo (Turismo), and re-electionist Rep. Ralph Tulfo of Quezon City (2nd District).
The petitioner said the potential election of the five Tulfo candidates, in addition to Sen. Raffy Tulfo, clearly constitutes a political dynasty, which is prohibited under the 1987 Constitution.
The Comelec sees the petition against the Tulfos as a potential test case for the constitutional provision on political dynasties.
Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”
