SET junks quo warranto petition vs Erwin Tulfo

The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) has dismissed the quo warranto petition seeking the removal of Senator Erwin Tulfo from office due to his supposed citizenship issues. 

Based on a SET resolution, the petition for quo warranto was junked for “being insufficient in form,” pursuant to Rule 23(a) of the 2020 SET Rules.

The rule states that the tribunal may summarily dismiss a protest or petition if it is insufficient in form or substance, among other things. 

The resolution was signed by SET chairperson and Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and other members of the tribunal, including Senators Pia Cayetano, Robin Padilla, Kiko Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino. 

Filed by Berteni Cataluña Causing on July 15, 2025, the petition sought Tulfo’s removal as a sitting senator on grounds of his alleged American citizenship, disloyalty to the Republic, violation of the political dynasty prohibition, and lack of academic qualification.  

Causing also filed a disqualification case against Tulfo when the latter was running for senator in the 2025 midterm elections. This was over multiple grounds, including disqualification due to a libel conviction in 2008.

Causing also accused Tulfo of violating a provision for equal access to opportunities for public service and the prohibition against political dynasties.

He also questioned Tulfo’s citizenship as well as his academic qualifications.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) later dismissed two petitions seeking to disqualify Tulfo over the petitioners’ failure to observe certain requirements.

Tulfo welcomed the SET’s decision, which he said is “a direct and clear affirmation” of the Comelec’s past dismissals of the disqualification cases repeatedly filed against him. 

“Bagama’t may nakahaing quo warranto case noong bagong pasok pa lamang tayo sa Senado, kailanma’y di naman ito naging hadlang sa tapat nating pagseserbisyo. Tuloy lang po sa trabaho,” he said. 

(Although there was a quo warranto case filed when we first entered the Senate, it never became an obstacle to our faithful service. Let’s just keep on working.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News