MANILA, Philippines – The Tulfo brothers are planning a reunion, not in their show “T3,” but in the country’s upper legislative chamber.

Two of the Tulfo brothers are now gunning for Senate seats in the 2025 polls, aiming to join their brother, Senator Raffy, in the upper chamber. Broadcaster-turned-lawmaker Erwin Tulfo has filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Sunday, October 6, a day after his other brother, Ben, his COC on Saturday.

If Erwin and Ben win, the “T3” will serve simultaneously as senators.

Would the election of two more Tulfo brothers constitute political dynasty? For Erwin, as long as there’s no law yet on the dynasty issue, people should decide who they want to vote for.

“Kung ngayon, kung may batas na ho, then we stop. ‘Yong political dynasty, matagal na pong usapin ho ‘yan eh. And I believe, hindi po titigil ‘yan hanggang wala pong batas…. For now, dahil wala po tayong batas, then let the people decide (Now, if there’s a law banning dynasties, then we stop. Political dynasty is already a perennial issue. And I believe that won’t stop until we have a law. For now, because we don’t have a law yet, then let the people decide),” the aspiring senator told reporters.

Although it’s true that a Republic Act banning political dynasties has yet to be passed, the 1987 Constitution has a specific provision ordering the state to ensure that political dynasties will be banned. The Constitution’s article II, section 26 states: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

There were attempts to pass a law that would prohibit dynasties through specific measures, but the legislative branch has yet to pass one. The political dynasty issue has also reached the Supreme Court (SC) after a group of lawyers filed a petition with the High Court, asking it to compel Congress to pass an anti-dynasty law.

So in the event that an anti-dynasty bill is filed and he is a sitting senator, would Tulfo support this?

“Yes. What I mean to say is if there is a law, then pag-uusapan ng majority. You know that it’s numbers game, ‘di po ba? You may say yes, pero ‘yong mga kasamahan mo, majority rules,” Tulfo explained. “We will look paano ‘yong porma ng dynasty, ‘yong sinasabing ‘yong dynasty law. Kung nandiyan na ‘yan, kung maganda naman ‘yon para makakatulong po sa sambayanan, then I will. Why not, di ba?“

(Yes. What I mean to say if there is a law, then the majority will talk about it. You know that it’s numbers game, right? You may say yes, but it depends on your companions, majority rules. We will look into the format of the anti-dynasty law. If it will be filed, and it will be beneficial to the people, then I will support it. Why not, right?)

Reelectionist Senator Pia Cayetano also filed her candidacy on Sunday, escorted by her brother, Senator Alan Peter, and sister-in-law, Taguig City Mayor Lani. But unlike Tulfo, Cayetano did not grant media interview during the filing.

In the event that both Tulfo and Cayetano win, the country will see a Senate where several siblings are serving simultaneously as upper chamber lawmakers. Aside from the Tulfos and Cayetanos, Camille Villar also guns for a Senate seat, while her brother, Senator Mark, is currently a member of the Senate.

A victory for Tulfo and Cayetano is not remote as both of them are running under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s slate, Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, and could enjoy the alliance’s machinery and influence. Tulfo and Cayetano are also popular among voters. Tulfo claimed the top spot in the Social Weather Stations’ latest Senatorial poll survey, while Cayetano was at the 4th to 8th spot.

Red-tagging in the spotlight

The issue of red-tagging, or the practice of dangerously linking individuals to communist rebel groups, was also put in the spotlight on Sunday.

Former anti-insurgency spokesperson and notorious red-tagger Lorraine Badoy has filed her certificate for nomination and acceptance (CONA) under Epanaw Sambayanan party-list as its second nominee. Badoy and the party’s first nominee, Marlon Bosantog, said their group is advocating for indigenous peoples’ rights.

Badoy is known for red-tagging progressive individuals, including members of the Lumad tribe. In many instances, the former anti-insurgency spokesperson claimed that members of the tribe were being recruited by communist and rebel groups, despite having no concrete evidence to prove her claims.

The former official has also previously attacked the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), an indigenous school for Lumad students. She previously claimed that the school was not government-regulated, even though ALCADEV had access to the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System, and was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For her red-tagging, Badoy has already been reprimanded by the SC and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Meanwhile, Apayao’s Isneg tribe has declared Bosantog as persona non grata in October 2021 after he was accused by the tribe of manipulating the processing of a dam project to favor a power firm. Bosantog previously served as National Commission on Indigenous Peoples’ regional director in Cordillera.

During the sixth day of COC filing, nominees of Makabayan bloc’s ACT Teachers party-list also filed their CONAs to maintain the progressive bloc’s seats in the lower house. Like other progressive groups, ACT Teachers party-list was among those victimized by Badoy’s red-tagging.

“Well, ‘yan na nga ang outrageous [na] nangyari na sa [party-list] system. Isang pinaka konkretong example na kumakatawan si Lorraine Badoy para sa indigenous people, samantalang isa siya sa mga nanguna sa pag-persecute sa mga Lumad, sa Lumad communities, [sa] pagpapasara, pandarahas sa mga Lumad schools,” ACT Teachers’ first nominee Antonio Tinio said.

(Well, that’s among the example of outrageous happenings in the party-list system. Among the concrete example is Badoy, who is representing indigenous people, but she led the persecution against Lumad and Lumad communities, and in the closure and harassment of Lumad schools.)

As of Sunday, a total of 78 aspiring senators have already filed their candidacies, while 87 party-list groups have filed their CONAs, according to the Commission on Elections. – Rappler.com