Tulfo files libel raps vs broadsheet

MANILA, Philippines — Broadcast journalist Erwin Tulfo filed libel charges against the Philippine Daily Inquirer for publishing a report claiming that he accepted P245,535 in bribes from then Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap in 2009.

Tulfo filed libel complaints against the broadsheet's editor-in-chief Leticia Jimenez Magsanoc, managing editor Jose Ma. Nolasco and reporter Nancy Carvajal for the March 19 story quoting the sworn statements by Rhodora Mendoza and Victor Cacal, former officials of National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor).

The government-owned and -controlled company was tagged as a conduit for legislative funds scam allegedly orchestrated by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

Mendoza and Cacal, who are also respondents in the National Bureau of Investigation's graft case on the "pork barrel" scam, claimed that Tulfo and two other media personalities received the money given in the form of "advertising expenses" but were illegally taken from the multi-billion peso scam.

Tulfo argued, meanwhile, that the so-called payoff was legal and covered by advertising contracts obtained from Nabcor.

Read: Tulfo lawyer: Money from Nabcor not 'payoff'

The complaint noted that Tulfo, now employed under TV5 and hosts a morning radio program over Radyo Singko, was working with RMN radio DZXL 558 kHz when the alleged illegal transaction was processed.

Nelson Borja, his lawyer, had said that the news article on the alleged bribe was unacceptable.

"That is malicious, that is libelous, and that is damaging, especially sa status in Erwin Tulfo," Borja said. - Camille Diola