Erwin Tulfo on 3 ‘backstabbing’ peers: ‘Tsk, tsk, tsk’

MANILA, Philippines — Using a cartoon, Sen. Erwin Tulfo lamented how “backstabbing” peers who sit on the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) continued to support a move to unseat him.

While he did not outrightly name them, Tulfo on Saturday took a swipe at his fellow senators who he said continued to seek his ouster over questions regarding his citizenship and other qualifications.

Tulfo posted on social media a cartoon depicting him as he was about to be stabbed from behind, with the attackers hidden from view save for their arms and hands that wielded a sword, a dagger and a kitchen knife.

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READ: Senate Electoral Tribunal junks anew disqualification case vs Erwin Tulfo

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“I just saw this in a post … Tsk, tsk, tsk … Being stabbed in the back hurts, doesn’t it, friend?” he said in the accompanying text.

The cartoon, whose artist was not identified, showed Tulfo with his back turned to the attackers as he was holding a boxed gift marked “Reforms” and giving it to another hand, this time marked with the Philippine flag.

While the attackers’ faces were left off-frame, their sleeves showed and had the following markings: “Sen. Padilla,” “Sen. Villar” and “Sen. Pia.”

A collective speech balloon coming from their side read: “Alisin ’yan sa Senado!! (Kick him out of the Senate!!)”

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There was no immediate comment from Senators Robin Padilla, Camille Villar, and Pia Cayetano. Aside from the three senators, the SET is currently composed of Senators Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, Lito Lapid; and Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen (chair) and Associate Justices Ramon Paul Hernando and Henri Jean Paul Inting.

Tulfo’s post came after the SET, in a 6-3 vote on Friday, rejected for the second time a petition filed in July 2025 by disbarred lawyer Berteni Causing to have him removed as senator.

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Causing, who earlier sought Tulfo’s disqualification from the May 2025 senatorial race, kept going after the senator at the SET by again citing his alleged non-Filipino citizenship and “allegiance to the United States,” his supposed lack of academic credentials and his being part of a political dynasty.

Ping senses ‘deeper’ motive

In a sign of support for Tulfo also on Saturday, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson questioned the motives of three minority senators who voted to revive Causing’s petition against Tulfo.

In a post on X, Lacson said: “Justice and fairness went out of the window when three minority senator-members voted in favor of an out-of-time motion for reconsideration filed by a petitioner without legal standing.”

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“Their motive may be deeper than personal issues against Sen. Tulfo,” he added, without also naming the three senators. INQ