Tulfo dismayed as minority senators back ouster reconsideration bid

MANILA – Senator Erwin Tulfo voiced his dismay Monday over reports that three minority senators voted in favor of reconsidering a petition filed against him in the upper chamber.

The reported backing for reconsideration emerged days after the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) dismissed a motion filed by disbarred lawyer Berteni Causing seeking Tulfo's ouster. The SET had determined the initial petition lacked sufficient grounds for removal proceedings.

Tulfo's reaction underscored the political tension surrounding the ouster effort, which has faced legal setbacks but continues to draw support from some quarters in the Senate. The participation of minority senators in voting for reconsideration indicates ongoing opposition to the embattled lawmaker within the chamber.

The development adds another chapter to what has been a contentious political episode for Tulfo since the ouster petition was first filed. While the SET's dismissal suggested the effort had stalled, the reported votes by minority senators suggest sustained efforts to challenge his tenure in the Senate.

Photo: Senator Erwin Tulfo presides over a Senate committee hearing, January 2026. Senate of the Philippines via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).