Fiscal OKs libel raps vs Tulfo brods

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City prosecutor’s office has recommended the filing of libel charges against broadcasters Raffy and Erwin Tulfo for allegedly calling a police officer a thief on their television program in 2011.

In a two-page resolution issued last week, assistant city prosecutor Ferdinand Baylon found probable cause to file a complaint against the Tulfo brothers for calling Senior Police Officer 3 Abubakhar Maglangit a thief during the Nov. 19, 2011 episode of their T3 program on TV5.

“This is clearly an imputation of a crime and had the effect of besmirching the reputation of the complainant. The truthfulness of the allegation (against the complainant) is immaterial,” read the resolution.

The case was raffled off to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 92 Judge Eleuterio Bathan.

In his complaint, Maglangit claimed that the Tulfos uttered degrading and insulting words against him when his photo was shown during the episode. He said the incident affected his daughter, a minor.

Maglangit included Mark Prindian and Melvin Navarro, field researcher and segment producer of the show, but the prosecutor exonerated them from the charges as their participation in the alleged libelous remarks of the Tulfos were unclear and unfounded.

The Tulfos failed to attend during the preliminary investigation of the case.