Tulfo dynasty? DSWD chief Erwin says family in politics has plus factor

With members of the Tulfo family in the executive branch and in both houses of Congress, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo said there's a plus factor to having loved ones in the government service.

In the latest episode of The Mangahas Interviews, Erwin gave as example his proposal to increase the social pension of indigent senior citizens to P1,500 a month.

“I’m not sure kung anong plans of my siblings and my other relatives pero ‘yung plus factor, kung marami ho sila sa politika, it’s a big factor,” Erwin told journalist Malou Mangahas.

(I'm not sure what the plans are of my siblings and my other relatives, but the plus factor is that there are many of them in politics. It's a big factor.)

“I'll give you a case in point, the ACT-CIS now. ‘Yung sister-in-law ko andon [sa House]. My nephew Ralph, the son of Senator Raffy, tutulong daw po sila in filing a bill,” he added.

(My sister-in-law is there [in the House]. My nephew Ralph, the son of Senator Raffy, will also help in filing the bill.)

“Hahabulin po ng mga kaalyado ko, 'yung ACT-CIS na kung puwedeng gawing P1,500 ang social pension ng mga senior citizens. And then siyempre bubulungan na rin po natin si Senator Raffy na matulungan kami para maiangat ang amount ng social pension fund ng senior citizens,” Erwin said.

(My allies, the ACT-CIS, will push to have the social pension for senior citizens amount to P1,500. And then of course we will ask Senator Raffy to help us to increase the amount of social pension fund of senior citizens.)

Senator Raffy Tulfo is Erwin's brother.

Raffy's wife Jocelyn is a representative of the ACT-CIS party-list in the House of Representatives. Their son Ralph is the representative of Quezon City's second district.

On whether there is an emerging Tulfo political dynasty, Erwin said he didn't have plans to run in the last elections.

He said he also didn't know the plans of his siblings.

“I don’t have plans actually to run for politics. Kahit sa ACT-CIS endorser lang ako but then sinama pala ako doon. I didn’t know na I was the fourth nominee," Erwin said.

(Even with ACT-CIS, I am just an endorser but they included me.)

"Sa dami kong ginagawa, pirma ako nang pirma, ‘yun pala, fourth nominee ako. I thought I was just endorsing them. I really don't have plans,” he added.

(With the many things I have to do, I just sign and sign, and later found out I was already the fourth nominee.) —Sundy Locus/NB/KG, GMA News