Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Special Envoy for Public Diplomacy to China and journalist Ramon Tulfo on Friday said the libel complaint filed against him by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was pure “harassment.”
“Parang harassment ‘yan e. Kasi parang pagsikil sa karapatan ko bilang isang mamamahayag,” Tulfo said in a phone interview.
Tulfo was referring to the libel charge filed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea regarding his May 28, 2019 column titled “The law of karma and Trillanes,” which appeared in The Manila Times.
Medialdea said the libel complaint was filed last June. For Medialdea, Tulfo’s column piece is filled with “malicious imputations of crimes and dishonorable acts… which assassinated my character and good reputation.”
In his column, Tulfo alleged that Medialdea was Sandra Cam’s benefactor, claiming that the so-called Little President and Cam have an “unholy” alliance.
On Friday, Tulfo said he is unfazed over the libel suit and even asserted he could back up all his claims.
“I can back up everything that I have said in my column. In fact, ako po ay isang responsableng mamamahayag at hindi po ako magbibintang-bintang o magsusulat ng mga facts na hindi ako sigurado o wala akong pinanghahawakan na mga dokumento,” he said.
Tulfo, who described himself as a “crusading journalist,” said he would “continue to write irregularities in the government of President Duterte.”
‘More coming’
In a text message, Medialldea said he would file more libel charges against Tulfo.
“All I can say is there will be more coming,” he said.
Sought for comment on this, Tulfo said: “I welcome them. Eh kasi alam niyo, kailangan ding malinis na kasi itong gobyerno natin. Akala ko ba change is coming o change was coming?”
Tulfo, a supporter of Duterte, said Medialdea should not be “onion-skinned.”
“Si Ginoong Medialdea ay isang government official at dapat ay hindi siya onion-skinned. Hindi siya balat-sibuyas. Iyon naman aking sulat ay fair commentary. Siya ay isang government official, dapat hindi siya masyadong nasasaktan dahil sa mga sinusulat tungkol sa kanya kung malinis ‘yong kanyang konsensiya,” he pointed out.
He said he has no plans of talking to Medialdea and would just face the charges in court.
“I will just face the cases in court kasi kung makipag-usap ako sa kanya ibig sabihin ay sumu-surrender ako eh wala naman akong malisya sa pagsulat eh,” Tulfo said.
‘More coming’
In a text message, Medialdea said he would file more libel charges against Tulfo.
“All I can say is there will be more coming,” he said.
Sought for comment on this, Tulfo said: “I welcome them. Eh kasi alam niyo, kailangan ding malinis na kasi itong gobyerno natin. Akala ko ba change is coming o change was coming?”
Tulfo, a supporter of Duterte, said Medialdea should not be “onion-skinned.”
“Si Ginoong Medialdea ay isang government official at dapat ay hindi siya onion-skinned. Hindi siya balat-sibuyas. Iyon naman aking sulat ay fair commentary. Siya ay isang government official, dapat hindi siya masyadong nasasaktan dahil sa mga sinusulat tungkol sa kanya kung malinis ‘yong kanyang konsensiya,” he pointed out.
He said he has no plans of talking to Medialdea and would just face the charges in court.
“I will just face the cases in court kasi kung makipag-usap ako sa kanya ibig sabihin ay sumu-surrender ako eh wala naman akong malisya sa pagsulat eh,” Tulfo said.
‘What harassment?’
Medialdea, however, urged Tulfo not use media harassment as his defense for the libel charge against him.
“You know, he started it all. I do not know his basis regarding the PCSO [issue]. I know his motivation [in writing about it], I know. Many. But I will no longer talk. Sabi ko kasi alang-alang kay sa Pangulo,” the Executive Secretary said.
The Palace official also said he would face the accusations hurled against him by Tulfo.
“I am just holding on because I don’t want to destroy my cases. I will face them frontally kung ano ‘yong mga china-charge niya sa akin. Iisa-isahin ko sasagutin kaya nagfa-file ako ng kaso sa kanya. Ngayon kung sinasabi niyang hina-harass ko siya, hindi ‘yon, hindi ako ganoong tao,” he said.
“He is hiding on that cloak na ‘yong harassment ng journalist,” he added.
Medialdea disclosed he has an “inventory” of libel cases against Tulfo.
“Andami. May imbentaryo na ako. Ayoko lang ilabas eh. That only means may depekto siya. Hindi siya normal,” he said.
He then said he was not oppressing Tulfo’s press freedom by filing the libel suit.
“Hindi ko siya sinisikil. As a matter of fact, narinig niyo ba akong nagsalita?” Medialdea pointed out.
“I just wanted to make corrections. Anong ginawa niya, kung anu-ano ang pinagsusulat,” he added.
He also challenged Tulfo to release documents to back up his allegations against him.
“Ilabas niya, gusto kong makita. Bajit hindi siya umaatend sa preliminary investigation? Ilabas niya,” he said.
“Kasi kung di niya ilalabas ‘yon, magkakaroon siya ng probable cause diyan. Papahuli, sasabihin na naman niya…,” he added. “Ilabas niya kung ano ‘yong sinasabi niya. Kung meron, ‘di totoo, okay. Kung ano ‘yong sinasabi niya, ilabas niya.”
“Nananahimik nga ako, nagtratrabaho. Pero alam ko kung bakit niya ginagawa ‘yan. Maghintay kayo ‘pag nalaman ninyo,” Medialdea further said. /kga
RELATED STORIES