Bacolod City eyes ‘persona non grata’ edict vs block timer Ben Tulfo

BACOLOD CITY—City officials are a step closer to declaring radio block timer Ben Tulfo persona non grata, or unwelcome, for putting Bacolod and some of its officials in a bad light.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in Bacolod also called Tulfo’s broadcasting style as a “disgrace to the profession.”

Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino said the Bacolod City government had nothing to do with the basketball event “FPJ Ang Probinsyano cast vs Artistahing Bacoleños.” It was not also an official event of the city and the MassKara Festival.

Espino was reacting to the complaint of a certain “Norma”, during a radio interview with Tulfo, that she has yet to collect talent fee of actors who played in the basketball game which amounted to at least P500,000 which local event organizers in Bacolod owed her.

He said Col. Henry Biñas, Bacolod City police chief, would issue a statement that he had nothing to do with the event staged last October.

Espino said he only helped the Bacolod City police after his help was sought as chair of the city council’s committee on peace and order. Among the help sought, said Espino, was to sell tickets for the fund-raising gimmick.

“I believe in justice and will seek that justice to clear my name. I do not stand for bullies,” Espino said.

The NUJP in Bacolod, in a statement, criticized Tulfo’s broadcasting style.

“Shame on Ben Tulfo for publicly berating and insulting Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia during a live interview when the latter failed to address his demand for answers and swift action,” the statement issued by NUJP Bacolod chair Marchel Espina said.

“This has nothing to do with Leonardia, the city government, and the alleged non-payment of the officials over a basketball game. This has everything to do with Tulfo and his brand of journalism,” the statement added.

Tulfo’s disappointment with city officials was understandable, but he should know better, being a veteran block timer, NUJP-Bacolod said.

“Again, this doesn’t give him the right to publicly taunt a news source,” it said.

At times, when news sources become a huge disappointment, real journalists have to keep their composure and finesse to maintain the highest standard of reportage, the NUJP said.

“May we remind this ‘journalist’ to practice real journalism, such as due diligence to get all sides of the story and provide proper context to the situation,” the NUJP chapter said.

“Real journalists seek out the truth—they are not the Messiah of the oppressed,” the NUJP statement added.

Edited by TSB