- Erwin Tulfo made disparaging remarks about retired General Rolando Bautista,current secretary of Department of Social and Development (DSWD)
- Later,the police escorts of Erwin, Ben and Raffy Tulfo were recalled
- Raffy protested against the plan to revoke Erwin’s permit to carry firearm
During his radio program Tutok Erwin Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo made disparaging remarks about Retired General Rolando Bautista, current secretary of Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD).
Erwin was angry after he was told that he needed to submit a request before he would be allowed to interview Secretary Bautista on May 28, Tuesday.
“Secretary Bautista, ha, ng DSWD, listen up and listen good. Tinatawagan ka namin para marinig ng mga kababayan nating mahihirap ang stand ng mga mahihirap, ha? Hindi yung sasabihan mo kami na sumulat muna kayo, five days, five days before. E, sino ka bang p*nyeta ka na kailangan ko pang sumulat-sulat sa iyo? Sampalin kita pag nakita kitang buang ka, e, wala akong pakialam ke retired general ka, mudmurin ko yung mukha mo sa inidoro!” Erwin said.
This tirade did not sit well with General Bautista’s colleagues in Philippine Military Academy, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Philippine National Police.
Afterwards, Erwin apologized and admitted his behavior was unethical. The apology might have come too late as the police escorts of Erwin, Ben and Raffy Tulfo and Raffy’s wife Jocelyn were recalled.
Apart from the brothers’ loss of police escorts, it was reported that Erwin’s permit to carry a firearm has been revoked.
Raffy defended brother Erwin who is currently receiving death threats, saying that planning to revocate his PTC is intolerable.
“Ayon po sa article ng Philippine Star, yung Firearms and Explosives Ordinance Division o FEOD ng Camp Crame, they’re set to review the PTC or permit to carry of firearms ni Erwin at ang magiging sunod na move po na siya po ay didisarmahan. Masakit po sa akin dahil isa po ako sa nag-udyok kay Erwin na mag-apologize at sinunod niya po yun. Nagpakumbaba po yung tao.Now, kung nagpakumbaba na po yung tao, sumurender na, nakataas na ang kamay, bakit hindi pa rin po ninyo matanggap kung sino man po kayo diyan at didisarmahan niyo pa po? Sobra na, tama na, labis na po ‘yan” Raffy stated.
Raffy then revealed that his brother Erwin is one of the fiercest defenders of President Rodrigo Duterte and this led him to receive death threats. He speculated that some government employees dictated the plan to revoke Erwin’s PTC.
“Para sa kaalaman po ninyo, kung sino man po kayo na may galit kay Erwin na nasa gobyerno din, si Erwin is the most or, at least, one of the most fiercest defenders ni President Duterte. Namo-monitor ko po kung paano niya dinedepensa si Pangulo sa mga tao o grupo na naninira o nambabatikos sa Pangulo. Napapakinggan ko po at napapanood ko kung paano hambalusin ni Erwin, sinasagasaan niya, kahit sino pa man yun kapag nakita niya na may mga tao na gustong gibain ang ating Pangulo. And because of that, nagkaroon po siya ng maraming kagalit.”
He explained that Erwin really needs the license to carry firearms for his protection against malicious threats.
“Sobra na, kaya I really have to react. Kasi nga naman po, kung sakaling dumating yung hindi inaasahan dahil wala nang security si Erwin, ang panlaban na lang po kapag may nang-ambush sa kanya, dun sa mga kagalit niya, at least he can draw his gun para naman meron siyang panlaban. Puwede siyang lumaban nang sabayan.Pero without the gun to protect himself, he’s a sitting duck. Alam ko po, yung FEOD, hindi po talaga sila ang may gustong gawin ito na disarmahan si Erwin. Maaaring may mga tao na gustong diktahan ang Camp Crame para disarmahan si Erwin. And I’m appealing to you na, please, don’t, tama na!” Raffy pleaded.
At a press briefing on May 3, Monday, Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde mentioned that a “good moral character” is considered a criterion for possession of firearms.
“Good moral character is a [criterion] like [when one applies for] possession of firearms,” Albayalde said.
“What if you provide security to a person who will bully, not only members of the AFP or PNP or a secretary for that matter, and yet he is being protected by police personnel?” Albayalde added.
“That would look bad in the public’s eyes if bullies, not necessarily Mr. Tulfo, boast of having policemen as security. I think that’s not good,” the top cop explained.
