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Erwin Tulfo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Teshiba and the surname or paternal family name is Tulfo.

The Honorable
Erwin Tulfo
Official portrait, 2023
Deputy House Majority Leader
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 9, 2023
LeaderManuel Jose Dalipe
Member of the House of Representatives for ACT-CIS
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 30, 2023
Preceded byJeffrey Soriano
27th Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
Ad interim
In office
June 30, 2022 – December 27, 2022
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byRolando Joselito Bautista
Succeeded byEdu Punay (OIC)
Personal details
Born
Erwin Teshiba Tulfo

(1963-10-06) October 6, 1963 (age 61)[1]
Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
Citizenship
  • Philippines
Political partyLakas–CMD (2024–present)
ACT-CIS (2023–present) (party-list)
SpouseRizalina Aquino[2]/Karen Padilla-Tulfo
Relations
Parent(s)Ramon S. Tulfo Sr.
Caridad Teshiba
ResidenceQuezon City
Alma materUniversity of the East (BS)
Occupation
  • Broadcaster
  • TV and Radio Host
  • Columnist

Erwin Teshiba Tulfo (Tagalog: [ˈʔɛɾwin ˈtulfo]; born October 6, 1963) is a Filipino politician, news anchor and columnist. He currently serves as a representative for ACT-CIS Partylist and a Deputy Majority Leader of the Philippine House of Representatives since 2023.[3][4] He previously served as the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development from June 30 to December 27, 2022, when his appointment was blocked and bypassed by the Commission on Appointments, during the presidency of Bongbong Marcos.

After his father died in 1985, Tulfo moved to the United States with a tourist visa and spent a decade as an undocumented worker, which he claimed was done to support his family.[5] A member of the Tulfo family of broadcasters, he was first hired as a news reporter at ABS-CBN upon returning to the Philippines, anchoring various news programs at the network such as TV Patrol and Pulso and hosting the shows Magandang Gabi... Bayan and Magandang Umaga, Bayan.[6]

He co-hosted PRTV Prime Media's primetime newscast Arangkada Balita in 2025, alongside Niña Corpuz. He also hosted PTV's primetime news program Ulat Bayan from 2020 to 2022,[7] as well as one of its AM radio counterparts: Radyo Pilipinas Uno's Erwin Tulfo: Live! or Tutok: Erwin Tulfo (2017–2022).[8] On TV5, Tulfo hosted the programs Tutok Tulfo (2010–2012) and T3: Alliance (2011–2016), and anchored the news program Aksyon from 2010 to 2017. He has also previously worked for Radio Philippines Network (RPN) and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC).

In 2000, Tulfo was convicted of four counts of libel in Pasay for a series of articles he wrote for the tabloid Remate in 1999 that accused a lawyer at the Bureau of Customs as an "extortionist... and a smuggler".[9][10] In 2011, Tulfo was fined ₱10,000 by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) for irresponsible coverage of the August 2010 Manila hostage crisis as host of RMN's Radyo Mo Nationwide, where he admitted to violating police instructions by interviewing the hostage taker Rolando Mendoza while negotiations are ongoing.[11]

Early life

[edit]

Born in Tacloban on October 6, 1963,[12] Tulfo is the son of Colonel Ramon Silvestre Tulfo Sr. (1915–1985),[13] who was a member of Philippine Constabulary, and Caridad Teshiba-Tulfo (c. 1927–2024), a housewife. He has eight siblings, among whom include Tuchi, Bong, Joseph, Edelle, Ramon, Ben, and Raffy Tulfo, who are all his fellow journalists.[14] His brother, Raffy, is an incumbent senator, while his sister, Wanda Corazon Teo, was a tourism secretary during the Duterte administration.[15]

Tulfo was alleged by representatives Oscar Malapitan and Rodante Marcoleta to have served in the United States Army from 1988 to 1992 and assigned on a tour in Europe from 1992 to 1996 during his unsuccessful 2022 congressional confirmation hearings for secretary of social welfare and development.[16] He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of the East in 2005. He is the host of his public service brand Mission X, which eventually evolved into the Erwin Tulfo Action Center.[17]

Political career

[edit]

In 2022, Tulfo was appointed Secretary of Social Welfare and Development by then-President-elect Bongbong Marcos in May 2022.[18] However, on December 27, 2022, his appointment was blocked and bypassed by the Commission on Appointments due to citizenship issues.

On May 30, 2023, Tulfo took oath as a representative of ACT-CIS Partylist, a week after a disqualification case against him was junked by the Commission on Elections.[19] On July 20, 2023, Comelec issued a certificate of proclamation to Tulfo, naming him as the third nominee of ACT-CIS, replacing Jeffrey Soriano, who had resigned in February 2023.[20] Tulfo took oath once again as a partylist representative on July 31, 2023, and was named as a House Deputy Majority Leader on August 9, 2023.[21][22]

On September 26, 2024, Tulfo was officially named to the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate for the 2025 Senate election.[23] Tulfo later filed his candidacy to run for senator on October 6, 2024.[12]

Controversies

[edit]

In 2008, Tulfo was found guilty by the Supreme Court of the Philippines of four counts of libel and was sentenced to pay a fine of ₱6,000 for each count and, along with his co-accused, ₱1,000,000 to the complainant as moral damages. The cases stemmed from multiple articles he wrote and published in the tabloid Remate which accused a Bureau of Customs official of being "an extortionist, a corrupt public official, smuggler and having illegally acquired wealth".[24][25]

During the aftermath of the 2010 Manila hostage crisis, Tulfo was severely criticized for his on-air phone interview with hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza which was said to have escalated the incident leading to the deaths of eight hostages.[26][27][28]

Senate inquiry on the ₱60-million corruption scandal of Wanda Tulfo Teo and her brothers Ben Tulfo and Erwin Tulfo.

In 2018, it was revealed by the Commission on Audit that the Department of Tourism (DOT), then headed by Tulfo's sister Wanda, paid around ₱60 million to Bitag Media Unlimited Inc., a media outfit headed by their brother Ben, to place tourism ads on Kilos Pronto, a blocktimer show on PTV hosted by Tulfo.[29] The transactions were not supported with proper documents such as a memorandum of agreement or contract. On May 8, Wanda Tulfo Teo resigned from her post.[29][30][31] She stressed that she did not know that her brothers were running the television show[32] and that it was a government-to-government contract between the tourism department and People's Television Network.[29] The Tulfo brothers afterwards promised that they will return the ₱60 million.[33][34] However, on June 17, 2018, it was revealed that they have not yet returned the money they received from the DOT.[35] In August 2018, then-Senator Antonio Trillanes IV declared that he will press plunder charges against the Tulfo siblings.[36]

On May 31, 2019, Tulfo made an on-air tirade against Social Welfare Secretary and retired Army Commanding General Rolando Bautista for refusing to interview with him.[37] A few days later, thousands signed a petition demanding Tulfo to apologize.[38] The Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association condemned Tulfo's remarks against the former Philippine Army chief.[39] Tulfo has apologized to Bautista for his remarks.[40]

In 2022, Tulfo's citizenship was disputed when he was appointed Secretary of Social Welfare and Development by then-President-elect Bongbong Marcos in May 2022.[18][41] In December, the Commission on Appointments bypassed his appointment for the second time due to his American citizenship, which he had admitted to have from 1986 to renouncing it in early 2022,[41] and his conviction on four counts of libel.[42]

In 2024, the Court of Appeals dismissed GMA Network's petition for review on the alleged 'stolen video' libel case against Tulfo, involving the 2004 Kidnapping of Angelo dela Cruz case.[43]

Other ventures

[edit]

Tulfo is also a franchisee and endorser of Siomai King, a food cart business selling Philippine siomai.[44]

Personal life

[edit]

Tulfo met newscaster Karen Padilla at ABS-CBN in the 1990s, whom he later married.[45] They have two daughters: Erika (born January 2004) and Erin.[46]

In October 2024, Tulfo listed Rizalina Aquino as his wife in his certificate of candidacy for senator in the 2025 elections.[2]

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Television
Year Title Character Network
1987–1992 PTV Weekend Report News anchor PTV
1987–1995 Pangunahing Balita
1995–1996 Magandang Umaga Po Host ABS-CBN
1996–2006 Alas Singko y Medya/Magandang Umaga Bayan/Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas
1996–2004 ABS-CBN Weekend News News anchor
1995–1999 Hoy Gising! Himself
1999–2000 Mission–X Host
2000–2002 Pangako Sa 'Yo Himself (Cameo)
2001–2005 Magandang Gabi, Bayan Host
2003–2005 Private I.[47] Host
2004–2005 TV Patrol Sabado/Linggo (now TV Patrol Weekend) News anchor
2004–2005 ABS-CBN Insider News anchor
2005–2006 Isumbong Mo: Tulfo Brothers Himself RPN
2006–2007 RPN NewsWatch Aksyon Balita News anchor
2007–2009 Bitag Co-host IBC
2010–2017 Aksyon News anchor TV5
2010–2012 Tutok Tulfo Host
2010–2011 Sapul sa Singko Host/Anchor
2011–2016 T3: Alliance Host
2013–2014 Good Morning Club Host/Anchor
2014–2016 Yaman ng Bayan Host
2017–2018 Kilos Pronto Co-host PTV
PTV News News anchor
2020–2022 Ulat Bayan News anchor
2025 Arangkada Balita News anchor PRTV Prime Media

Radio

[edit]
Year Title Station
2010–2018; 2023–2025 Punto Asintado with Aljo Bendijo Radyo Pilipinas (RP1) (formerly Radyo5 92.3 News FM)
2018–2022 Tutok Erwin Tulfo Radyo Pilipinas (RP1)
2006–2010 RMN News Nationwide DZXL 558
2023 Erwin Tulfo On-Air with Niña Corpuz Radyo Pilipinas (RP1)

Awards

[edit]
PMPC Star Awards for Television
  • Best Male Newscaster (2014,[48] 2015[49] and 2016)
Inding-Indie Short Film Festival
  • Asian Best Broadcasters Award (2015)[50]
  • Most Trusted Media Personalities for Radio and Television Award (2016)
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "TULDO, ERWIN TESHIBA" (PDF). Commission on Elections. October 29, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Certificate of Candidacy for Senator - Erwin Teshiba Tulfo" (PDF). Commission on Election. October 29, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  3. ^ Mangaluz, Jean (May 30, 2023). "Erwin Tulfo sworn in as ACT-CIS party-list rep". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  4. ^ Quismoro, Ellson (August 9, 2023). "Erwin Tulfo gets named House deputy majority leader". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  5. ^ Gulla, Vivienne (January 6, 2025). "Erwin Tulfo: Umalis po ako ng Pilipinas para mag-TNT sa Amerika". ABS-CBN News. Manila: ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  6. ^ Salterio, Leah (October 13, 2000). "Reporting to you live is Mon Tulfo's brother and Ka Noli's 'student'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A29. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  7. ^ Gabinete, Jojo (October 2, 2020). "Tulfo vs Tulfo: Magkapatid na Erwin at Raffy, magkatapat ang news programs". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc. Retrieved April 22, 2025. Nag-umpisa ang Ulat Bayan noong September 7. Ito ang hudyat ng pagbabalik sa primetime newscast ni Erwin Tulfo, ang nakababatang kapatid ni Raffy[...]
  8. ^ ""Sa totoo lang" Interview of Mr. Erwin Tulfo with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte". Presidential Communications Office. October 13, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2025. Location[:] PTV 4
  9. ^ Papa, Alcuin (November 18, 2000). "Erwin Tulfo found guilty of libel". Philippine Daily Inquirer. A21: The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. Retrieved April 22, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  10. ^ GMANews.TV (September 17, 2008). "SC affirms libel conviction of broadcaster Erwin Tulfo". GMA News Online. Manila, Philippines: GMA Network Inc. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  11. ^ Aquino III, Benigno (October 11, 2010). "Aquino's statement: Recommended actions on IIRC report on Manila hostage crisis". GMA News Online. GMA Network Inc. Retrieved April 22, 2025. [Michael] Rogas interfered in the negotiations and effectively aided and supported the hostage taker by giving him a platform to air his demands. Tulfo, by his own admission, violated police instructions.
  12. ^ a b Araja, Rio N. (October 6, 2024). "Tulfo officially joins 2025 senatorial race under Lakas CMD". Manila Standard. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  13. ^ "Colonel Ramon Silvestre Barcarcel Tulfo, Sr". Geni.com. May 26, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Depasupil, William (September 1, 2024). "Tulfo family thanks those who condoled with them". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Jiminez, Josephus (August 14, 2019). "Who is afraid of the Tulfo brothers?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  16. ^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne; Torres, Sherrie Ann (November 22, 2022). "Panel grills DSWD chief Tulfo over US citizenship, libel conviction, 'colorful love life'". ABS-CBN News. Manila: ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  17. ^ Ombay, Giselle (May 31, 2022). "Erwin Tulfo to close charitable center to avoid conflict with DSWD job". GMA News. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Mercado, Neil Arwin (May 30, 2022). "Erwin Tulfo to serve as DSWD secretary; 4 other Marcos Cabinet members named". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  19. ^ Pazzibugan, Dona; Aurelio, Julie (June 1, 2023). "Erwin Tulfo is fourth member of family to take oath as lawmaker". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Sevillano, Stephanie (July 20, 2023). "Comelec proclaims Tulfo as 3rd ACT-CIS party-list nominee". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  21. ^ Cervantes, Filane Mikee (July 31, 2023). "Erwin Tulfo takes oath as new ACT-CIS representative". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  22. ^ de Leon, Dwight (August 9, 2023). "Neophyte lawmaker Erwin Tulfo elected House deputy majority leader". Rappler. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Gita-Carlos, Ruth Abbey (September 26, 2024). "PBBM bares admin's 2025 senatorial slate". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  24. ^ G.R. No. 161032 (September 16, 2008), "ERWIN TULFO v. PEOPLE", The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation, Inc., retrieved August 9, 2023
  25. ^ Abillar, Adel (November 17, 2021). "[OPINION] Isumbong mo si Tulfo". Rappler. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  26. ^ Andrade, Jeannette (May 26, 2013). "Broadcast commentator Erwin Tulfo to help in hostage negotiations". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  27. ^ Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (June 16, 2011). "KBP: Media should not be negotiators". Inquirer News. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  28. ^ Santiago, Katrina Stuart (August 23, 2011). "No apologies, no excuses: The Manila Hostage Massacre". GMA News Online. GMA Network. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  29. ^ a b c "Tulfo-Teo: No conflict of interest in P60M tourism ads on brother's show on PTV-4". CNN Philippines. April 30, 2018. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  30. ^ "Wanda Teo resigns as Tourism chief". May 8, 2018.
  31. ^ "'Pagsasauli ng mga Tulfo sa P60 milyon, di sapat'; Wanda Teo, pinagbibitiw". May 7, 2018.
  32. ^ "Teo has 'no idea' her brothers Ben and Erwin Tulfo host 'Kilos Pronto'". May 8, 2018.
  33. ^ "Tulfo brothers to return P60M to government". Rappler. May 7, 2018.
  34. ^ Tan, Lara; De Guzman, Chad (May 8, 2018). "Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo resigns 'out of delicadeza'". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  35. ^ "AD PLACEMENT | 60 Million, hindi pa rin naibabalik ng Tulfo brothers - Sec. Berna Puyat". RMN Networks. June 17, 2018.
  36. ^ "Trillanes to press plunder charges vs Teo, Tulfo brothers". August 16, 2018.
  37. ^ "Erwin Tulfo sorry for 'excessive rants' vs. DSWD chief Bautista, but won't retract criticisms". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  38. ^ "Soldiers seethe online after Erwin Tulfo threatens to slap ex-Army chief". Rappler.
  39. ^ Frances Mangosing (May 31, 2019). "PMA alumni condemn Tulfo's 'degrading remarks' vs DSWD's Bautista". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  40. ^ "Tulfo apologizes for 'excessive' berating of DSWD's Bautista". Inquirer.net. May 31, 2019.
  41. ^ a b "US citizenship, libel raised vs Erwin Tulfo a non-issue—Pimentel". Manila Bulletin. November 24, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  42. ^ Torregoza, Hannah (December 12, 2022). "Zubiri: CA to bypass DSWD chief Erwin Tulfo again". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  43. ^ Hufana, Chloe Mari (November 4, 2024). "GMA plea vs ABS-CBN denied". BusinessWorld. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  44. ^ "Siomai King goes online to meet rising demand for food delivery". INQUIRER.net. May 13, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  45. ^ E, Baby (October 11, 2020). "Mga natirang artista sa ABS-CBN, gagawan ng bagong station ID". Pang-Masa (in Filipino and English). Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved April 22, 2025. Erwin used to work with ABS-CBN, where he met his wife, the former Karen Padilla.
  46. ^ Tuazon, Nikko (July 20, 2022). "Erika Tulfo celebrates 18th birthday with Greek-themed party". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  47. ^ "Makabuluhan at de-kalibreng pamamahayag. 11:30 gabi-gabi". Philippine Daily Inquirer (in Filipino and English). The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. August 24, 2003. p. C7. Retrieved April 24, 2024. Masigasig na pag-iimbestiga sa tunay na pangyayari sa likod ng mga istorya kasama si ERWIN TULFO sa pag-arangkada ng...
  48. ^ "28th PMPC Star Awards for TV And the winners are..." Philstar.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  49. ^ Villano, Alexa (December 3, 2015). "FULL LIST: Winners, 2015 PMPC Star Awards for TV". RAPPLER. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  50. ^ "The Tulfo brothers are strict and... - Inding-Indie FILM Festival | Facebook | Ghostarchive". Facebook. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
2022 		Succeeded by
Edu Punay
Officer-in-charge
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