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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Claim: Senator Raffy Tulfo has been removed from the Senate following a decision by the Supreme Court (SC).
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the YouTube video posted on January 5 has garnered 136,205 views, 4,700 likes, and 773 comments.
The video’s title reads, “Nakakagimbal! Raffy Tulfo natameme sa utos ng Korte Suprema! Senado ligwak na!” (Shocking! Raffy Tulfo speechless over Supreme Court decision! Tulfo no longer a senator!)
The video’s narrator says, “Isang kontrobersyal na desisyon mula sa Korte Suprema ang nagpatalksik kay Raffy Tulfo mula sa kanyang posisyon bilang senador.”
(A controversial decision from the Supreme Court has removed Raffy Tulfo from his position as senator.)
The facts: Tulfo has not been removed from the Senate. He remains a sitting senator, as seen on the Senate’s official website. There are no reports or official announcements from Tulfo’s verified Facebook page or the Senate about his supposed expulsion.
There is also no SC decision supposedly ordering Tulfo’s expulsion. The most recent ruling issued by the High Court related to Tulfo was its April 2024 ruling upholding the dismissal of a disqualification case filed against the senator. The case was first dismissed by the Commission on Elections’ First Division in March 2022.
Senate’s authority: Article VI, Section 16 of the Philippine Constitution explains the process for disciplinary measures that can be imposed on members of the Senate: “Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members, suspend or expel a Member. A penalty of suspension, when imposed, shall not exceed sixty days.”
Tulfos in Congress: Tulfo is currently a top contender for the 2028 presidential race, statistically tied with Vice President Sara Duterte. In Pulse Asia’s survey conducted in March 2024, Tulfo obtained 35% voter preference while Duterte obtained 34%.
A survey by research firm WR Numero conducted in September 2024 also showed the two as Filipinos’ most preferred candidates for the 2028 polls.
Two more Tulfos are eyeing a Senate run: ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo and broadcaster Ben Tulfo. The two are among the top senatorial candidates in a mid-December 2024 preference survey by the polling firm Social Weather Stations. If they win seats, there will be three Tulfos in the Senate, as Senator Raffy is not up for reelection until 2028. (READ: Meet the ‘obese’ political dynasties of the Philippines)
Legal challenges: The Tulfos are no stranger to facing legal challenges. In 2019, Raffy Tulfo and the publishers and editors of Abante Tonite were ordered to pay damages over a libel case concerning a 2003 column.
The Commission on Appointments twice deferred Erwin’s confirmation bid as social welfare secretary due to a libel conviction and issues concerning his citizenship.
In 2018, both Ben and Erwin were asked to return P60 million to the government after state auditors flagged payment for ad placements by the Department of Tourism, then led by their sister Wanda Teo, on a show hosted by the Tulfo brothers.
Debunked: Rappler has previously debunked false claims against Tulfo:
- FACT CHECK: Tulfo remains a sitting senator
- FACT CHECK: Tulfo not suspended from Senate
- FACT CHECK: Raffy Tulfo ad for joint pain ‘cure’ is AI-manipulated
– Ramon Franco Verano/Rappler.com
Ramon Franco Verano is a graduate of Rappler’s volunteer program. He is a fourth year History student at the University of Santo Tomas. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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