Arrest warrant still out for TV broadcaster accused of libel

CMFR/Philippines – A warrant of arrest is still out for one of two broadcasters accused of libel. Branch 92 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in Manila issued the warrant on 23 June 2014 against TV broadcasters Raffy and Erwin Tulfo. A police officer who said the Tulfos humiliated and called him a thief on air filed the libel complaint.

Raffy Tulfo, host of the TV program “T3” aired on Manila’s TV5, posted bail of PHP6,000 (about USD140), according to a report from the newspaper Philippine Star. His brother and co-host Erwin had not yet posted bail as he was abroad.

The Quezon City Prosecutor’s office found probable cause against the Tulfo brothers and forwarded its decision to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on 18 June 2014.

Police officer Abubakar Maglangit filed the complaint after Raffy allegedly called him a “shameless, gun-wielding, water thief” on T3 in November 2011, which Maglangit said his young daughter overheard.

According to the same Philippine Star report, Raffy insisted his allegation against Maglangit was true.

Libel is still a criminal offense in the Philippines despite calls for its decriminalization. In October 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Committee urged the Philippine government to review its old libel law which it described as “excessive.” CMFR and journalists’ groups have been urging the decriminalization of libel for nearly two decades.