A legal challenge is currently unfolding in the Philippines, casting a long shadow over the political career of Senator Erwin Tulfo.

The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) has confirmed it is reviewing a quo warranto petition filed against the neophyte lawmaker. This powerful legal move directly questions his right to hold office, primarily citing alleged citizenship issues. 

Should the petition succeed, it could result in the senator's shocking and immediate removal, sending a tremor through the country's political landscape.

The bombshell was quietly dropped during the Senate Committee on Finance's budget deliberations for the SET. While Deputy Secretary Eleanor Francisco-Anunciacion initially avoided naming the specific senator, the severity of the situation was clear: a sitting senator was under scrutiny for failing the basic eligibility requirement of citizenship. 

The petition, filed on July 15, 2025, instantly raised the stakes, turning a routine budget hearing into a moment of high political tension.

The identity of the target and the petitioner soon became undeniable. A slide in the SET’s presentation revealed that the quo warranto petition was lodged by Berteni Cataluna Causing against Senator Erwin T. Tulfo. 

This isn't the first time these two names have clashed. Causing, described by the senator as a "disbarred lawyer," has a history of filing legal challenges against Tulfo. This suggests a deeply entrenched, ongoing legal feud that has now reached the highest level of political contestation.

However, Senator Tulfo appears unfazed by the latest attack, framing it as a predictable continuation of the past. 

He stated that he wasn't surprised, noting that the "same person" repeatedly filed disqualification cases against him during his senatorial campaign.

Crucially, Tulfo reminded the public that all previous disqualification cases filed by Causing against him have been dismissed. The senator stressed his commitment to his mandate, asserting, "We were elected by the people to serve, and that is what we continue to do."

It is true that Causing's past efforts to block Tulfo's run were unsuccessful. Before the 2025 midterm elections, the petitioner cited multiple grounds beyond citizenship—including a libel conviction, alleged violations of anti-political dynasty rules, and questionable academic qualifications. 

Yet, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ultimately junked a prior disqualification case against Tulfo in March. Part of the ruling even clarified that "lack of Philippine citizenship" and other claims made were not grounds for disqualification in that specific context, though a quo warranto petition to the SET is a distinct and potent legal challenge.

With the petition now officially pending before the SET, the fate of Senator Tulfo hangs in balance. While his legal team will undoubtedly leverage his track record of dismissed cases and the strong mandate he received from the electorate, the quo warranto petition demands a full, definitive legal review of his qualifications. 

The nation watches as the Tribunal begins its preliminary actions, knowing that its final ruling could either cement Tulfo’s place in the Senate or execute a dramatic political removal based on a fundamental technicality.

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