By Maricel V. Cruz
Former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo will take his oath as the nominee of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) party-list group.
But Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe said Tulfo cannot assume office just yet until the House of Representatives receives official notice from the Commission on Elections upholding his nomination.
Tulfo was the fourth nominee in the list submitted to Comelec ahead of last year’s polls, with the first three nominees assuming office on June 30, 2022.
However, the third nominee, Jeffrey Soriano, resigned from the House of Representatives on February 22, 2023.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Tulfo is already considered a House member after the poll body dismissed for lack of jurisdiction the disqualification case filed against him.
“The oath of office is a formality, one of the requirements that we need,” Velasco said.
“We (the House leadership) were already assured that the letter is forthcoming and we were furnished a copy of the notice of dismissal of the case against him. So we will go ahead with the oath-taking, but of course for the actual occupation of the office, we will await the formal letter from Comelec,” he added.
The disqualification case against Tulfo has been elevated to the Comelec Second Division en banc after petitioner Atty. Moises Tolentino Jr. filed on May 29 a motion for reconsideration to overturn the dismissal of the case.