Broadcaster Erwin Tulfo Sues Inquirer F
Broadcaster Erwin Tulfo sues Inquirer for libel
Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:35 AM | Tuesday, March 25th, 2014
TV5 News anchor Erwin Tulfo on Monday filed a libel case in the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against the Philippine Daily Inquirer, seeking P12 million in damages for reporting that he allegedly benefited from the diversion of congressional pork barrel funds, through a state agency, to dubious nongovernment organizations (NGOs).
Named respondents were Inquirer editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, managing editor Jose Ma. Nolasco, news editor Artemio Engracia Jr. and reporter Nancy Carvajal.
In the March 19 report, the newspaper named Tulfo and another radio news anchor as recipients of allocations in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) coursed through the National Agribusiness Corp (Nabcor) and subsequently to NGOs.
The report was based on documents provided by former Nabcor officials Rhodora Mendoza and Vicente Cacal to the Office of the Ombudsman claiming that 83 lawmakers instructed Nabcor, an agency attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), to release P1.7 billion from the PDAF to questionable NGOs, including those controlled by Janet Lim-Napoles.
Napoles is under investigation in connection with the alleged diversion of PDAF funds to ghost projects and kickbacks. Mendoza and Cacal are among the 38 people under investigation. They have offered to become state witnesses.
Speaking to reporters, Tulfo said that in filing the libel case he wanted to clear up things. He confirmed that he received in 2009 a check for P245,535 but that this was payment of the premiums for 3-minute advertisements on his 2-hour program then aired over DZXL-Radio Mindanao Network (RMN). He said there was nothing illegal in the transaction.
He said that as a radio broadcaster then, the 3-minute commercials were for the DA and not specifically for Nabcor.
“Maybe it was misinterpreted by the paper. The whistle-blowers had to come up with something new,
Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:35 AM | Tuesday, March 25th, 2014
TV5 News anchor Erwin Tulfo on Monday filed a libel case in the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against the Philippine Daily Inquirer, seeking P12 million in damages for reporting that he allegedly benefited from the diversion of congressional pork barrel funds, through a state agency, to dubious nongovernment organizations (NGOs).
Named respondents were Inquirer editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, managing editor Jose Ma. Nolasco, news editor Artemio Engracia Jr. and reporter Nancy Carvajal.
In the March 19 report, the newspaper named Tulfo and another radio news anchor as recipients of allocations in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) coursed through the National Agribusiness Corp (Nabcor) and subsequently to NGOs.
The report was based on documents provided by former Nabcor officials Rhodora Mendoza and Vicente Cacal to the Office of the Ombudsman claiming that 83 lawmakers instructed Nabcor, an agency attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA), to release P1.7 billion from the PDAF to questionable NGOs, including those controlled by Janet Lim-Napoles.
Napoles is under investigation in connection with the alleged diversion of PDAF funds to ghost projects and kickbacks. Mendoza and Cacal are among the 38 people under investigation. They have offered to become state witnesses.
Speaking to reporters, Tulfo said that in filing the libel case he wanted to clear up things. He confirmed that he received in 2009 a check for P245,535 but that this was payment of the premiums for 3-minute advertisements on his 2-hour program then aired over DZXL-Radio Mindanao Network (RMN). He said there was nothing illegal in the transaction.
He said that as a radio broadcaster then, the 3-minute commercials were for the DA and not specifically for Nabcor.
“Maybe it was misinterpreted by the paper. The whistle-blowers had to come up with something new,