DSWD chief sets conditions for accepting Tulfo apology

MANILA, Philippines — Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista is ready to forgive broadcaster Erwin Tulfo, but only if several conditions are met.

Breaking his silence yesterday on Tulfo’s on-air expletive-spiced rant against him, Bautista released a statement in Filipino, declaring he would accept Tulfo’s appeal for forgiveness on condition that the broadcaster would publish a public apology in half-page advertisements in the country’s leading newspapers.

The retired Army general said Tulfo should also post the ads on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, and broadcast them on radio stations dzBB, dzMM, Radyo Singko News FM 92.3, dzRH and dzRB.1

Bautista also demanded Tulfo donate not less than P300,000 to 19 units and groups of uniformed personnel.

He demanded the broadcaster to also make a donation to Marawi City refugees and to an educational trust fund to be set up for deserving children of personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Tulfo earlier ranted against Bautista who had not agreed to an interview.

Tulfo threatened to slap Bautista and to shove his face into the toilet bowl should they cross paths, all because the former Army chief failed to grant him his request for a phone patch interview in his radio show.

Bautista expressed his thanks to people who showed their sympathy following Tulfo’s tirade.

He admitted the episode has been a big test for him as it has served to cast aspersion on his person and heaped insult on his character.

He said the trust, confidence and respect shown him by the Philippine Military Academy, the Philippine Army and DSWD where he had served and is now heading, as well as the advice of his seniors and friends, had obliged him to decide on the conditional grant of forgiveness to Tulfo to give proper justice to him as well as those who had shown their support and helped him. 

Following the incident, Tulfo and his two siblings lost their police security escorts after they were pulled out and reassigned.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) now wants Tulfo to surrender his guns, saying his license to own and possess firearms has already expired.

PNP spokesman Col. Bernard Banac said they have sent a notice to Tulfo to surrender his firearms as he no longer has a valid License to Own and Possess Firearms, which expired last month.

Banac said that Tulfo’s firearms, even if duly registered, need to be surrendered for safekeeping as he currently has no more authority to own the guns without license. 

“Ordered for the recall or the temporary custody or safekeeping of Erwin Tulfo inasmuch as the license to own and possess of firearms… has already expired,” he said. –Romina Cabrera