MANILA, Philippines — The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Monday slammed radio personality Erwin Tulfo’s inexcusable behavior when he dissed Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista on air.
In his radio program “Tutok Erwin Tulfo” aired on May 27, Tulfo berated Bautista for refusing to grant him a live interview for the show.
“There can be no excuse for Erwin Tulfo’s utter lack of ethics and scruples in publicly insulting Secretary Rolando Bautista simply for not being able to immediately answer his demand for an interview,” the NUJP said in a statement.
While the NUJP recognized a journalist’s job to “criticize” government officials, the group said “the vitriol he heaped on Bautista clearly had nothing to do with whether or not the secretary was doing his job and everything to do with Tulfo’s exaggerated sense of entitlement.”
“No, this has nothing to do with Bautista, for Tulfo’s fault would be no less grave had he spewed his venom on a street beggar,” the NUJP said.
The group also questioned Tulfo’s brand of journalism which aligns with the preferences of the administration — “vilify those who do their work seriously and credibly.”
“The issue is Tulfo’s brand of “journalism,” and we are using the term very liberally since what he and his ilk practice bear little resemblance to the profession of truth, which, ironically, is what this administration seems to prefer even as it vilifies those who do their work seriously and credibly,” the NUJP said.
“Indeed, the Tulfos of this world seem to have found the perfect niche within the infrastructure of a government that has established itself as the foremost purveyor of disinformation and has run roughshod over most, if not all, our people’s basic rights and liberties,” the group added, while noting that Erwin “outshone the rest” to the extent of getting the attention of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
READ: PMAers, PIA exec gang up on ‘next press secretary’
The NUJP called for members of the media to realize that revenue brought by “unethical and irresponsible muckraking” cannot equate the damage brought by such behavior to the profession and to the people on the receiving end of the comments.
Tulfo had apologized for his remarks, while stressing that he was only doing his job as a journalist.
“I apologize doon sa excessive na ranting, ‘yung five minutes akong nagwawala. It’s uncalled for,” Tulfo said.
READ: Tulfo apologizes for ‘excessive’ berating of DSWD’s Bautista
READ: Active, retired soldiers defend DSWD’s Bautista after Tulfo outburst
Following the incident, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recalled the security escorts of Tulfo brothers Erwin, Raffy, Ben, and Ramon.
The PNP and the PNP, however, denied that the recall was due to the incident.
READ: PNP, AFP recall Tulfo brothers’ security escorts
Tulfo is reportedly being eyed as the next Press secretary of President Rodrigo Duterte.