MANILA – The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) has dismissed a quo warranto petition seeking to remove Senator Erwin Tulfo over alleged citizenship issues.

In a resolution, the tribunal ruled that the petition was “insufficient in form,” citing Rule 23(a) of the 2020 SET Rules, which allows summary dismissal of petitions lacking proper form or substance.

The resolution was signed by SET chair and Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, along with Senators Pia Cayetano, Robin Padilla, Kiko Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino.

The petition, filed by Berteni Cataluña Causing on July 15, 2025, claimed Tulfo held American citizenship, violated political dynasty restrictions, and lacked the necessary academic qualifications. Causing also raised issues related to Tulfo’s alleged disloyalty to the Republic and a previous 2008 libel conviction.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) dismissed two disqualification cases against Tulfo due to procedural deficiencies.

Tulfo welcomed the SET’s decision, calling it “a direct and clear affirmation” of Comelec’s past rulings.

“Although there was a quo warranto case filed when we first entered the Senate, it never became an obstacle to our faithful service. Let’s just keep on working,” he said.