THE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Bacolod chapter criticized Tulfo after the latter berated and insulted Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
“Shame on Ben Tulfo for publicly berating and insulting Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia during a live interview when the latter failed to address his demand for answers and swift action,” NUJP-Bacolod chairperson Marchel Espina said in a statement, which she posted on Facebook.
She said the incident had nothing to do with Leonardia, the City Government, and the alleged non-payment of the officials after a basketball game, but with Tulfo’s lack of ethics and respect for news sources.
"This has everything to do with Tulfo and his brand of journalism," she said, adding that "Tulfo's lack of ethics and respect to news sources is a disgrace to the profession -- shame on him for calling himself a journalist.”
The journalists’ group said Tulfo's outburst, strong sense of entitlement and combative approach are plain repugnant. Tulfo's disappointment with the city officials is understandable, but he should know better, being a veteran in this profession as he claims, the NUJP said.
The NUJP-Bacolod Chapter pointed out that, again, this does not give Tulfo the right to publicly taunt a news source. "At times, when news sources become a huge disappointment, real journalists have to keep their composure and finesse to maintain the highest standard of reportage," Espina said. Espina added:
"May we remind this 'journalist' to practice real journalism, such as due diligence to get all sides of the story and provide proper context to the situation."
"Real journalists seek out the truth -- they are not the Messiah of the oppressed," she added. On Monday, members of the Bacolod City Council said they are eyeing to pass a resolution declaring Tulfo a "persona non grata" after he allegedly maligned and disrespected the mayor on his program that was posted on social media last week. "Persona non grata" is a Latin word for a person who is unacceptable or unwelcome.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said "it was unethical, he (Tulfo) disrespected Mayor Bing as well as the Bacolodnons."
It can be recalled that on Friday, December 6, a certain "Norma" sought the assistance of Tulfo after their basketball team FPJ's Team Promdi, which held a game for a cause with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) in Bacolod City on October 26, for allegedly failing to get their payment for the event.
"The way he (Tulfo) treated our mayor was very inappropriate," Familiaran said. Tulfo, during his program, interviewed Leonardia via phone. The mayor has clarified that the basketball game was not part of the MassKara Festival event.
"I am not involved on this as well as the city government," Leonardia said. Even the BCPO, in a Facebook post, clarified that Leonardia has no participation in the event.
Tulfo, in a recent post on social media, responded to the council's move to declare him a "persona non grata." He said: "Sinong niloloko nyo? Sige i-ban nyo ako... Wow sikat na ako, I love this job."
Tulfo assailed the City Council, saying: "Kayong mga nasa council ng Bacolod, sige bantayan nyo ako sa airport, sa pier, kahit saan, papasok ako. Hoy makinig kayo, nag-aral ako sa La Consolacion ng elementary." "I love Bacolod City.
Anytime kung gusto ko bumalik, you can't stop me, bullets will stop me," he added. Tulfo also hit Leonardia: "What I have done sa inyo? Makinig ka, listen carefully, kayo ang may issue, mensareho lang ako."
"Kun ikaw napipikon sa akin, wala akong pakialam. Trabaho lang walang personalan," he added, urging the City Government to settle unpaid fees to the celebrity players.