Erwin Tulfo
Erwin Teshiba Tulfo (Tagalog: [ˈɛɾwin ˈtulpɔ]) is a Filipino news anchor, broadcaster, and columnist who was the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development from June 30 to December 27, 2022, when his appointment was blocked and bypassed by the Commission on Appointments, during the presidency of Bongbong Marcos.
Erwin Tulfo | |
|---|---|
Tulfo in 2022 | |
| 27th Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Ad interim | |
| In office June 30, 2022 – December 27, 2022 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Rolando Joselito Bautista |
| Succeeded by | Edu Punay (OIC) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Erwin Teshiba Tulfo |
| Citizenship |
|
| Political party | ACT-CIS |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | |
| Education | University of the East (BS) |
| Occupation |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1988–1992 |
He previously worked with PTV's flagship primetime news program Ulat Bayan and one of its AM radio counterpart Radyo Pilipinas (RP1)'s Tutok Erwin Tulfo. He was the host of Tutok Tulfo, co-host of T3: Kapatid Sagot Kita! together with his brothers Raffy and Ben, and one of news anchors of Aksyon on TV5 and AksyonTV. He has also worked for ABS-CBN, Radio Philippines Network (RPN), and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC).
Biography
Tulfo is the son of Colonel Ramon Silvestre Tulfo Sr., who was a member of Philippine Constabulary, and Caridad Teshiba-Tulfo, a housewife. His brothers include Ramon, Ben, and Raffy Tulfo, who is also an incumbent senator. His sister, Wanda Corazon Teo, was a tourism secretary during the Duterte administration.[1]
He served in the United States Army from 1988 to 1992. He graduated with a bachelor of science in Business Administration from the University of the East in 2005. He is the host of his public service brand Mission X, which eventually evolved into the Erwin Tulfo Action Center.[2]
Controversies
This section may be unbalanced towards certain viewpoints. (February 2023) |
In 2008, Tulfo was found guilty by the Supreme Court of the Philippines of four counts of libel and was sentenced to pay a fine of ₱6,000 for each count and, along with his co-accused, ₱1,000,000 to the complainant as moral damages. The cases stemmed from multiple articles he wrote and published in the tabloid Remate which accused a Bureau of Customs official of being "an extortionist, a corrupt public official, smuggler and having illegally acquired wealth".[3][4]
During the aftermath of the 2010 Manila hostage crisis, Tulfo was severely criticized for his on-air phone interview with hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza which was said to have escalated the incident leading to the deaths of eight hostages.[5][6][7]
In 2018, it was revealed by the Commission on Audit that the Department of Tourism (DOT), then headed by Tulfo's sister Wanda, paid around ₱60 million to Bitag Media Unlimited Inc., a media outfit headed by their brother Ben, to place tourism ads on Kilos Pronto, a blocktimer show on PTV-4 hosted by Tulfo.[8] The transactions were not supported with proper documents such as a memorandum of agreement or contract. On May 8, Wanda Tulfo Teo resigned from her post.[8][9][10] She stressed that she did not know that her brothers were running the television show[11] and that it was a government-to-government contract between the tourism department and People's Television Network.[8] The Tulfo brothers afterwards promised that they will return the ₱60 million.[12][13] However, on June 17, 2018, it was revealed that they have not yet returned the money they received from the DOT.[14] In August 2018, then-Senator Antonio Trillanes IV declared that he will press plunder charges against the Tulfo siblings.[15]
On May 31, 2019, Tulfo made an on-air tirade against Social Welfare Secretary and retired Army Commanding General Rolando Bautista for refusing to interview with him.[16] A few days later, thousands signed a petition demanding Tulfo to apologize.[17] The Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association condemned Tulfo's remarks against the former Philippine Army chief.[18] Tulfo has apologized to Bautista for his remarks.[19]
In 2022, Tulfo's citizenship was disputed when he was appointed Secretary of Social Welfare and Development by then-President-elect Bongbong Marcos in May 2022.[20][21] In December, the Commission on Appointments bypassed his appointment for the second time due to his American citizenship, which he had admitted to have from 1986 to renouncing it in early 2022,[21] and his conviction on four counts of libel.[22]
Other ventures
Tulfo is also a franchisee and endorser of Siomai King, a food cart business selling shumai.[23]
Filmography
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (February 2023) |
Television
| Television | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Character | Network | ||
| 1987–1992 | PTV Weekend Report | News Anchor | PTV | ||
| 1987–1995 | Pangunahing Balita | ||||
| 1990–1996 | Magandang Umaga Po | Host | ABS-CBN | ||
| 1996–2006 | Alas Singko Y Medya/Magandang Umaga Bayan/Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas | ||||
| 1999–2003 | ABS-CBN Weekend News | News Anchor | |||
| 1995–1999 | Hoy Gising! | Himself | |||
| 1999–2000 | Mission–X | Host | |||
| 2000–2002 | Pangako Sa 'Yo | Himself (Cameo) | |||
| 2001–2006 | Magandang Gabi, Bayan | Host | |||
| 2003–2005 | TV Patrol Weekend | News Anchor | |||
| 2004–2005 | ABS-CBN Insider | News Anchor | |||
| 2005–2006 | Isumbong Mo: Tulfo Brothers | Himself | RPN | ||
| 2006–2007 | RPN NewsWatch Aksyon Balita | News Anchor | |||
| 2007–2009 | Bitag | Co-Host | IBC | ||
| 2010–2017 | Aksyon | News Anchor | TV5 | ||
| 2010–2012 | Tutok Tulfo | Host | |||
| 2010–2011 | Sapul sa Singko | Host/Anchor | |||
| 2011–2016 | T3: Alliance | Host | |||
| 2013–2014 | Good Morning Club | Host/Anchor | |||
| 2014–2016 | Yaman ng Bayan | Host | |||
| 2017–2018 | Kilos Pronto | Co-Host | PTV | ||
| PTV News | News Anchor | ||||
| 2020–2022 | Ulat Bayan | News Anchor | |||
Radio
| Year | Title | Station |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–2018 | Punto Asintado | Radyo5 92.3 News FM |
| 2018–2022 | Tutok Erwin Tulfo | Radyo Pilipinas (RP1) |
| 2006–2010 | RMN News Nationwide | DZXL 558 |
| 2023–present | Erwin Tulfo on-air with Niña Corpuz | Radyo Pilipinas (RP1) |
Awards
- PMPC Star Awards for Television
- Best Male Newscaster (2014, 2015 and 2016)
- Inding-Indie Short Film Festival
- Asian Best Broadcasters Award (2015)
- Most Trusted Media Personalities for Radio and Television Award (2016)
References
- ^ Jiminez, Josephus (August 14, 2019). "Who is afraid of the Tulfo brothers?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ Ombay, Giselle (May 31, 2022). "Erwin Tulfo to close charitable center to avoid conflict with DSWD job". GMA News. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ "G.R. No. 161032". www.lawphil.net.
- ^ Abillar, Adel (November 17, 2021). "[OPINION] Isumbong mo si Tulfo". Rappler. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ Andrade, Jeannette (May 26, 2013). . Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (June 16, 2011). "KBP: Media should not be negotiators". Inquirer News. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ Santiago, Katrina Stuart (August 23, 2011). "No apologies, no excuses: The Manila Hostage Massacre". GMA News Online. GMA Network. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Tulfo-Teo: No conflict of interest in P60M tourism ads on brother's show on PTV-4". CNN Philippines. April 30, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
- ^ "Wanda Teo resigns as Tourism chief". May 8, 2018.
- ^ "'Pagsasauli ng mga Tulfo sa P60 milyon, di sapat'; Wanda Teo, pinagbibitiw". May 7, 2018.
- ^ "Teo has 'no idea' her brothers Ben and Erwin Tulfo host 'Kilos Pronto'". May 8, 2018.
- ^ "Tulfo brothers to return P60M to government". Rappler. May 7, 2018.
- ^ Tan, Lara; De Guzman, Chad (May 8, 2018). "Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo resigns 'out of delicadeza'". CNN Philippines. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ^ "AD PLACEMENT | 60 Million, hindi pa rin naibabalik ng Tulfo brothers - Sec. Berna Puyat". RMN Networks. June 17, 2018.
- ^ "Trillanes to press plunder charges vs Teo, Tulfo brothers". August 16, 2018.
- ^ "Erwin Tulfo sorry for 'excessive rants' vs. DSWD chief Bautista, but won't retract criticisms". CNN Philippines.
- ^ "Soldiers seethe online after Erwin Tulfo threatens to slap ex-Army chief". Rappler.
- ^ Frances Mangosing (May 31, 2019). "PMA alumni condemn Tulfo's 'degrading remarks' vs DSWD's Bautista". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "Tulfo apologizes for 'excessive' berating of DSWD's Bautista". Inquirer.net. May 31, 2019.
- ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (May 30, 2022). "Erwin Tulfo to serve as DSWD secretary; 4 other Marcos Cabinet members named". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "US citizenship, libel raised vs Erwin Tulfo a non-issue—Pimentel". Manila Bulletin. November 24, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ Torregoza, Hannah (December 12, 2022). "Zubiri: CA to bypass DSWD chief Erwin Tulfo again". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ "Siomai King goes online to meet rising demand for food delivery". INQUIRER.net. May 13, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2023.