Pimentel believes US citizenship, libel cases raised vs. DSWD’s Tulfo during CA hearing not an issue

For Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, there is no reason for the Commission on Appointments (CA) to deny the confirmation of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo based on the facts surrounding the latter's American citizenship and libel cases.

Although he is not aware of the specifics of the court's judgment against Tulfo, Pimentel said libel cases can be "amicably settled" with the person who filed the case against him.

“Basta sa tingin ko, kasi ang libel may private person na nasaktan, you could even reconcile with that person eh. Puwede naman ma-amicably settle yan,” Pimentel said.

“I don’t think it’s such a big issue na it disqualifies you to be appointed,” he added.

On the other hand, Pimentel said the DSWD secretary was not officially declared by the United States government as its citizen.

“Ang basic facts dito kay Sec. Tulfo, hindi siya naging Amerikano kasi US mismo nagsasabi na defective ang kanyang application at hindi nila grinant or ‘di dumating sa dulo. Kasi sabi nila meron kang kakulangan siguro sa documents na sinubmit,” Pimentel said.

“Kung ganun kasimple yung facts dun, ‘wag na natin i-pursue ‘yung issue na ‘yun because it may not even be an issue because if you did not really become an American, you have always been a Filipino,” he added.

Even if Tulfo said that he became an American citizen, Pimentel explained that this is not a “controlling statement” as the US government itself supposedly said that the DSWD chief never became their citizen.

“So kung ako member ng CA ngayon--di naman ako member ngayon--kung ganyan ang facts na darating sa akin, na yung US ang nagsasabi na he never became a citizen, therefore, that is a non-issue for me,” he continued.

GMA News Online has reached out to Tulfo to confirm the information that Pimentel had disclosed but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

The CA Committee on Social Welfare and Development last Tuesday deferred the deliberations on the ad interim appointment of Tulfo as DSWD secretary as members of the panel still want to clarify some issues including his US citizenship and his conviction on four counts of libel.

Despite the CA panel’s deferment, Tulfo said Wednesday that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. advised him to continue doing his job as DSWD secretary. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News