MANILA, Philippines - The family of Cebu Pacific employee Charice Bocboc yesterday sought the help of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) against actress Claudine Barretto, who had berated her at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last Sunday.
CHR chair Loretta Ann Rosales said it would be better if things could be ironed out between Bocboc and Barretto.
“Bocboc was seriously affected by the incident wherein she was shouted at and scolded by Barretto. She can file a case in court if she wants to. It’s up to her and her family. It’s their right,” Rosales said.
She said the CHR would also be willing to help them if they ask assistance from the agency.
She added, however, that the public should not totally get mad at Barretto for her behavior.
“She has her reasons for acting that way, and she can make it up to Bocboc by issuing apology. It need not be personal. It can be a public apology,” Rosales said.
There are reports that the family of Bocboc, who was allegedly verbally abused by Barretto during the incident at the NAIA last Sunday, plans to sue the actress.
Barretto allegedly berated Bocboc when the actress learned that her luggage was offloaded by the airline.
As this developed, Barretto and husband Raymart Santiago are now seeking protection from a court against threats made by the Tulfo brothers on their TV show.
The couple filed a petition for a writ of amparo against “T3” hosts Raffy, Ben and Erwin Tulfo and asked for a temporary protection order against the brothers.
In their 17-page civil complaint before the Quezon City regional trial court, they asked that the Tulfos be barred from approaching them within 500 meters.
They also asked to be assigned police escorts from the Police Security Protection Office.
The civil case came four days after the T3 hosts allegedly threatened the Santiagos on air for ganging up on their older brother Ramon Tulfo during an airport brawl.
The couple asked for an order for the Tulfos to “cease and desist from further threatening the life, liberty and security of the petitioners and their family.”
“It is very clear that there are real and serious threats to the life and security of the petitioners which need the benevolent intercession of the court by issuance of a writ of amparo and a special protection order,” the petition stated.
The brothers had issued an apology and had been suspended by TV5. This was aside from the 20-day suspension meted by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
But the couple said that while the MTRCB has taken action against the T3 hosts, this “does not erase the possibility that the respondents would use all their influence to endanger the life and security of the petitioners.”
TV5, on the other hand, questioned before the Court of Appeals (CA) yesterday the preventive suspension order handed down by the MTRCB against its program “T3.”
In a 47-page petition for review and certiorari, the television network asked the appellate court to immediately stop and eventually nullify MTRCB’s order issued last Thursday.
Airport guards suspended
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) slapped a five-day suspension on six security guards detailed at the NAIA 3 for their alleged failure to prevent last Sunday’s brawl.
Ordered suspended starting Monday are security guards Flincer Baje, Jaypee Go, Eden Budejas, Aries Afable, Alfredo Cappal and Wilson Cadiente Jr. – all of the Lanting Security Agency.
“They failed to execute utmost diligence to protect the persons from further harm,” the PNP-SOSIA said in its investigation report.
According to the SOSIA, the security guards were hesitant to act as “human barriers” during the brawl. – Reinir Padua, Edu Punay, Mike Frialde, Jaime Laude