DAVAO CITY (June 3) — The police and marine escorts detailed to secure the Tulfo brothers have been recalled but authorities said the recall is not related to the recent rants of Erwin Tulfo against Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista.
In applying for security escorts, the authorities conduct background investigation to check if the applicant has a good moral character.
The Tulfo brothers have security escorts for a long time.
In their respective radio and television programs, the Tulfo brothers are known to be tough and straight, they help aggrieved individuals and even provide financial assistance if necessary.
Philippine National Police Chief General Oscar Abayalde in Camp Crame press briefing said the Tulfo brothers requested for security details as private individuals.
Abayalde said the Tulfo brother applied for security citing threats they are facing.
In a press statement, AFP spokesperson Marine Brigadier General Edgar Arevalo said the recalled was scheduled last year, even before Erwin tulfo lashed out Bautista.
“The Corps has sent correspondence to their respective principals since last year informing them of the order requiring the Marines to report back to Headquarters for consequent deployment,” Arevalo said.
The statement added “Due to the dearth of personnel, the Philippine Marine Corps has started recalling its Marines who were detailed outside the Corps as security detail.”
Last week, Erwin earned the ire of both the active and retired Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduate when he lashed out on air and hurled curses and insults at Bautista for refusing to be interviewed.
PNP Police Security and Protection Group chief Brigadier General Filmore Escobal said the 8 police security escorts for Erwin, Ben, Raffy, and Raffy’s wife Jocelyn have been recalled as of noon on Saturday, June 1.
Arevalo explained that the recall taking effect recently is “only part of the process.”
Harold Clavite, the Director General of the government’s Philippine Information Agency in a facebook post on Friday stated “To be berated in public by a pretentious and poisonous media personality whose only leverage is his last name and airtime in government radio is complete nullity. Gen. Bautista is a blazing star, way incomparable from this superstar wannabe,”
Clavite described General Bautista as— “a man of character, integrity, and professionalism. I have worked with him in Marawi and in the Philippine Army’s multi-sector advisory board. His leadership is meritorious and highly exceptional.”
Both the PNP and AFP denied the recall is connected to the incident where Tulfo berated Bautista even even warned to slap him in public.
Bautista’s only fault was the failure to answer the phone for a live interview with Tulfo because at that time he was receiving foreign guests at the DSWD.-ezc/NewsLine.ph
