By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday echoed Malacañang’s call for the public to move on amid the tiff between broadcaster Erwin Tulfo and Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista.
PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde welcomed Tulfo’s apology for his harsh remarks against Bautista.
“It’s very noble of Mr. Erwin Tulfo to do that and we are very much thankful. Of course, on the part of the PNP, we accept his sincere apology. As what Sec. (Salvador) Panelo, let’s move on. I cannot speak on behalf of the Armed Forces (of the Philippines), most especially on behalf of (retired) General Bautista. But I am pretty sure, knowing General Bautista, he is a very kind and professional person. I have known him since cadetship because he is my company mate at the PMA (Philippine Military Academy),” Albayalde told reporters when sought for a comment on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) medical center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
“He (Bautista) is very understanding and I am sure he will accept the apology,” he added.
Albayalde on Monday admitted that one of the factors for the recall of the security escorts of the Tulfo brothers was the tirades of the broadcaster against Bautista, a retired Army general.
Citing that providing police security to a person is a privilege and not a right, Albayalde said this can be revoked anytime depending on the behavior of the person.
Police Security Protection Group director, Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal said the recall for the conduct of review of the police personnel who serves as security detail to an individual is a normal process.
He said the review which will identify if a person is still entitled to a police escort usually takes one to two weeks.
Escobal also clarified that Erwin, Ben and Raffy Tulfo and Raffy’s wife Jocelyn were given police escorts after they were granted exemption by the Commission on Election (Comelec) amid the ban on providing security escorts in time for the mid-term elections.
He said it was established that there were serious threats against the Tulfos.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said the issue should be laid to rest because Tulfo has already apologized for his negative remarks against Bautista.
Asked if the Palace would support a probe into Tulfo’s tirade against Bautista, Panelo said he would leave the task to Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
Panelo, meanwhile, defended the explanation of Bautista, a retired military general, saying requests for interviews will have to be processed within five days.
Despite Bautista’s five-day condition before being granted an interview, Panelo maintained that Cabinet members under the Duterte administration are “accessible”.
“We are accessible. It takes a little time for others, but we are accessible. We do not block media from coming in,” Panelo said.
Panelo said the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alumni Association had a “right” to express their outrage over Tulfo’s remarks against the retired general.
In his program over state-run Radyo Pilipinas last week, Tulfo berated the DSWD chief after he failed to grant him an interview on issues regarding the Magna Carta for the Poor signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
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