The Association of General and Flag Officers on Monday strongly denounced the offensive behavior displayed by radio broadcaster Erwin Tulfo to a former Philippine Army Chief turned Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista.
Tulfo has since ‘unequivocally’ apologized, saying that he will personally seek forgiveness from Bautista for cursing and vilifying the DSWD chief.
“Ako po at ang buong pamilya Tulfo ay nagpapakumbabang humihingi po ng kapatawaran kay retired general at ngayo’y Secretary ng DSWD, Rolando Bautista, sa pagmumura at pambabastos ko sa kanya on air. Nawa’y mapatawad ninyo ako bilang isang tao na may mga kamalian at pagkukulang din,” Tulfo said.
Last week, Tulfo vilified Bautista for declining him a live radio interview. He argued that it was the obligation of Bautista to respond to his possible questions about government services.
Tulfo’s derogatory comments against Bautista drew the ire of the military establishment, including the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association.
“The Association of General and Flag Officers [AGFO] is deeply saddened and seriously alarmed by the abused of press freedom by Mr. Erwin Tulfo with his profanity and crude language to get the attention of a senior government officials, DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, a retired General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” AGFO said in statement.
AGFO said Tulfo’s rough actuations replicates “unprofessional conduct of a media practitioner, sets bad example to striving and future mediamen, and leaves negative impression to the general public. AGF abhors such abuse of freedom of expression.”
“AGFO believes that the democratic principles enshrined in our constitution provide clear and unmistakable message that for press freedom to continue and flourish every citizen must recognize the limitations imposed by the applicable laws of the land, professional ethics and societal norms,” AGFO said.
AGFO further reminded that “preserving press freedom is everyone’s resp0nsibility. Let us all be counted and protect such freedom.”
Erwin Tulfo’s verbal tussle has sparked widespread criticism, prompting authorities to recalled all police and military escorts of the Tulfo brothers—Raffy, Ramon and Ben and Jocelyn, wife of Raffy.
“This is all but privileges that are extended and these privileges can always be revoked anytime especially may nangyari na ganyan, of course hindi yun ang main reason, but that is a factor also of course of the behavior of the person,” PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde.
Police Brig. Gen Filmore Escobal, chief of the Police Security Protection Group (PSPG) said the PNP has provided two escorts each for Erwin, Raffy, Ben and Jocelyn while Ramon has two Marine security.
After the incident, the Tulfo brothers reported at the PSPG office in Camp Crame last Saturday where the issue of police escorts has been tackled and evaluated.
As to whether the PNP will still provide police escorts to the Tulfo brother depends of the outcome of the evaluation.
“It will depend on the evaluation committee kasi meron rin tayong titingnan na mga documents because there might be possible violation on the policy of availment.” Said Escobal.
Tulfo, meanwhile, said he is ready to apologize to Bautista personally so everyone can move on from the issue. Aside from the DSWD Chief, he also apologized to the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, who threatened to file libel and defamation charges against the broadcaster.
Erwin, along with his brothers Raffy and Ben, are known for their scathing commentaries. He said the family has been contemplating tempering their remarks.
“I think I have to tone it down, I have to change my style kahit na sinasabi na it is kind of a Tulfo-brand of journalism. I think we have to change that. My brothers agree with me, Mon, Raffy, Ben, we really have to tone down because times have changed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Palace has backed Rolando Bautista after Tulfo chided the DSWD for turning down an on-air radio interview.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said respect should be given to everyone and it should also be earned.
While the Palace said it sides with Bautista, Panelo said the issue should be laid to rest after the broadcaster already apologized.
“We are supporting Gen. Bautista; there’s no problem with that, we really are supporting him,” Panelo said.
“[But] the fact alone that Mr. Tulfo has apologized, I think we should also commend him for expressing an apology. I think we should bury that, we should move forward,” he added.
The Palace official said President Rodrigo Duterte will not meddle with the quarrel between Tulfo and Bautista, telling them that “respect should be given to everyone”.
Panelo also defended Bautista, explaining that requests for interviews will have to be processed within five days.
“It depends on every Cabinet member. The schedule of a Cabinet member may be such so tight that it has to follow certain procedure,” Panelo said.
“Perhaps the topic for interview was too serious, he had to prepare for it,” he added.
Panelo even maintained that Cabinet members under the Duterte administration are “accessible” to the media.
“We are accessible. It takes a little time for others, but we are accessible. We do not block media from coming in,” he said.
Asked if the Palace would support an investigation into Tulfo’s scathing remarks against Bautista, the Palace official said he would leave the decision to Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
“I do not want to preempt whatever the head of the department would look at that incident. I will not interfere with the department, let the head of the department what he wants to do,” Panelo said.