They may be ‘minsan bastos’ but the Tulfos have great hearts for the ordinary people

Everyone knows that their style is controversial, even “minsan bastos” (at times vulgar), but the Tulfo brothers do something that very few journalists in the Philippines do: They gave “voice to those who do not have a voice,” they speak on behalf of people no one listens to.

When “Juan de la Cruz” is not respected and his rights are violated, the Tulfos speak up to defend him from the abuses of barangay officers, corrupt government employees, policemen or whoever does not fulfill his/her duties.

In the case of Ramon Tulfo, he did what he and his brothers always do; he wanted to show how a simple, ordinary person was being abused. If a member of the crew of a company is berated by a celebrity, I firmly believe that the world must know this: fame, money or power does not give anyone the right to mistreat a person. If the company makes a mistake or is incompetent, the right thing to do is pass on the complaint to the company or the relevant authority, not to berate a member of the crew.

I do not know who began the incident at Naia last May 6. On the other hand, to discuss this may be like discussing which came first—the chicken or the egg.

I have personally met one of the Tulfo brothers. Last year, Raffy helped us raise funds for the operation of a child-beneficiary of our feeding program. That encounter gave me the opportunity to see that behind Raffy’s strong voice and harsh words is a great heart that is concerned for poor and simple Filipinos, a great heart that only very few journalists have.

My dear Tulfo brothers, you have my gratitude and admiration. Please, keep on defending Juan de la Cruz’s rights and denouncing those who do not respect him.

—FR. FACUNDO MELA, FDP,

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