If the petition canceling his senatorial candidacy is approved, broadcaster Raffy Tulfo may no longer run for the senate in 2022.
According to Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez, Thursday, even before the end of last month, someone had filed a complaint with them.
“Julieta Pearson [filed the petition]. Filed October 25,” said Jimenez in a press briefing on Thursday afternoon.
“Petition to cancel [certificate of candidacy].”
Julieta Licup Pearson said there was misrepresentation in Tulfo’s certificate of candidacy (COC) when he did not state her as his spouse.
She insisted that she and Tulfo were married in October 1982 in Capaz, Tarlac. Their marriage supposedly was never nullified.
“This misrepresentation in his certificate of candidacy was done by him fully aware that he is not legally married to his declared wife in the COC, Jocelyn Pua Tulfo,” the petition dated October 25 read. Pearson is currently a party-list representative in Congress.
In 2019, Tulfo admitted that he had a child with Pearson.
Also read: Booster shots for the general public possible in 2022
‘Wife’ of Raffy Tulfo files petition to cancel his Senate bid
“Noong ako po ay isa pa lang struggling broadcaster o naghihikahos na mamamahayag, maraming taon nang nakararaan, I reached out to my daughter with her, at nagkita po kami ng aking anak sa kanya at ako po’y nagbigay ng tulong pinansiyal at mga regalo,” he had said.
If such a complaint succeeds, it will mean that the controversial anchor’s certificate of candidacy (COC) was not officially filed from the very beginning.
Tulfo was a well-known anchor on television and radio before filing his candidacy in the Comelec in October. The journalist became famous for his work in reporting on TV5 and leading several public service shows on Radyo Singko and YouTube, such as “Wanted sa Radyo,” “T3,” and “Raffy Tulfo in Action.”
“There is only one ground for cancellation [of COC], which is material misrepresentation,” Jimenez added.
Raffy Tulfo is among the leading senatorial for the 2022 elections.
Tulfo’s camp has not yet commented on the issue.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.