Ben Tulfo shuns political dynasty tag, kicks off senatorial campaign
Senatorial hopeful Bienvenido “Ben Bitag” Teshiba Tulfo —Inquirer photo/Lyn Rillon
MANILA, Philippines — Independent senatorial hopeful Ben Tulfo, whose siblings are known politicians, said he is against political dynasties.
Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview following his kick-off rally on Tuesday, Tulfo argued that he and brothers Erwin and incumbent senator, Raffy, are not an example of a political dynasty.
“Sa aking depinisyon, praktikal ako ah—ano ba ang dynasty? Pamilya [na] nagpapalit-palitan. Bakit pagdating namin magpapalitan kami nina Raffy, Erwin? Hindi magkaiba ang mga isip namin. Hindi dikit-dikit ang mga pusod namin,” said Ben.
(By my definition, I’m practical—what is a dynasty? A family [that] takes turns. Do I take turns with Raffy and Erwin? Our minds are different. Our navels are not directly connected.)
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Article continues after this advertisement“Ang dinastiya meron kang baluarte at sa baluarte na ’yan ay magpapalitan lang kayo. ’Yun ang dinastiya–may batas ba tayo dyan? Meron naman, e bakit hindi napapatupad? Ewan ko lang kung bakit. Bakit niyo sa akin tinatanong?” he added.
Article continues after this advertisement(A dynasty has a bastion and in that bastion you just take turns. That’s what a dynasty is — do we have a law there? We do, but why isn’t it enforced? I just don’t know why. Why are you asking me?)
In the same interview, Ben said he is against political dynasties, but he also noted that “at the end of the day, it is the people who elect dynasties.”
“Ano ang kanilang batayan? Siguro ang batayan nila ay doon sa resultang nagagawa ng mga nasa dinastiya. Sa aking pananaw—dinastiya ba kaming tatlo? Paano kami magkakaroon ng dinastiya e wala kaming baluarte kung kami ay nasa Senado—nasyonal ’yan eh. Hindi mo pwedeng kontrolin ang tao doon sa Visayas at Mindanao,” he said.
(What is their basis? Maybe their basis is the results achieved by those in the dynasty. In my view—are the three of us a dynasty? How can we have a dynasty when we have no stronghold if we are in the Senate—that is national? You cannot control the people in the Visayas and Mindanao.)
The independent candidate, a broadcaster by profession, is seeking a Senate seat along with his brother Erwin, who is the ACT-CIS representative.
But what would happen should the three of them meet at the Senate?
Ben said the three of them are “not a package deal” and that they have their mind and principles, which would not affect their jobs.
