Raymart, Claudine file raps vs Tulfo

MANILA, Philippines - Celebrity couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto yesterday filed before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office charges of physical injuries and child abuse against columnist Ramon Tulfo for allegedly assaulting them in the presence of their children at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last Sunday.

Accompanied by their lawyers Alex Avisado and Rose Ann Casales, the couple filed their complaint before Assistant City Prosecutor Susan Garcia.

In their eight-page complaint, the couple said the assault at the airport did not only cause them physical injuries but also emotional and psychological trauma on their two children, aged eight and five.

“Due to this incident, our children are now at risk of being impaired. This act constitutes child abuse, which is defined and penalized under RA 7610 otherwise know as the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act,” Santiago said.

After filing the complaint, a teary-eyed Santiago again narrated to reporters that it was Tulfo who started the fight and that they are determined to pursue the case.

He also appealed to other passengers who witnessed the incident to come forward and testify so that the truth will come out.

TV5 suspends Tulfos

Avisado told The STAR that they are also preparing grave threat charges against the Tulfo brothers – Erwin, Raffy and Ben – for threatening the couple in their television program.

Santiago said that despite the apology aired by the Tulfo brothers, he would still pursue the case.

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), on the other hand, has already issued an order recommending sanction against the Tulfos’ TV program to the Kapisanan ng Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

The MTRCB has set a hearing today to discuss the possible punishment for the Tulfo brothers for allegedly threatening Santiago and Barretto on their program on TV5.

“Acting on numerous complaints from the general public and based on the board’s own monitoring, the office of the MTRCB legal counsel has found probable cause to charge the television program ‘T3 KAPATID SAGOT KITA,’ aired over TV5,” MTRCB chair Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares said in a statement Tuesday.

“Immediately taking cognizance of the complaint, the board has scheduled the case for hearing on 10 May 2012, at 10:30 a.m.,” she said.

She said the show violated Section 3(c) of Presidential Decree No.1986 “for airing scenes and utterances that are indecent and contrary to law, or with a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of violence, or of a wrong or crime.”

MTRCB has the authority to suspend a television program that does not comply with ethical standards.

TV5 already suspended Ben, Raffy and Erwin Tulfo yesterday on the program but Ramon Tulfo and Martin Andanar took over. – Rudy Santos