MANILA, Philippines - Columnist and broadcaster Ramon "Mon" Tulfo, who was involved in a brawl with celebrity couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barreto at NAIA Terminal 3 on Sunday, appeared Monday evening on 'T3', the primetime public service program on TV5 hosted by Tulfo's younger brothers, Erwin, Ben and Raffy.
However, the three brothers, after expressing their support for Mon, inhibited from interviewing their eldest sibling, citing ethical considerations. Instead, they gave way for Atty. Mel Sta. Maria, TV5's resident legal analyst, to conduct the interview.
It was about Cebu Pacific at first
Tulfo reiterated to Sta. Maria his initial assertions that he was merely taking pictures of Barretto after chancing upon her berating ground crew of Cebu Pacific.
He said that he was in fact initially pleased to see someone standing up to Cebu Pacific. "Mabuti at nakahanap ng katapat ang CebuPac. Ilang beses ko ng tinuligsa ang Cebu Pac. Mabuti naman at mayrong marunong umangal sa CebuPac," Tulfo said. (It was a good thing to see, someone standing up to CebuPac. I had criticized the airline many times before. It was good that someone was complaining.)
But then Tulfo suggested that Barretto was becoming abusive in her language, supposedly threatening to use her influence to have the ground crew fired. Tulfo said he started taking pictures with his cellphone.
At this point, Santiago supposedly accosted him, and tried to confiscate his cellphone. He refused, shoved Santiago, and that, he said, is what triggered the brawl.
Santiago and Barretto had earlier insisted that Tulfo gave Santiago more than a shove. They also said Tulfo kicked Barretto without provocation. Santiago said he was merely defending his wife.
No room for apologies, for now
Atty. Sta. Maria asked Tulfo if he would accept an apology from the celebrity couple.
"Mahirap siguro ngayon. Masyado akong nadehado eh. Mabuti pa kung fair fight yun eh.” Tulfo said. (It's hard at the moment. I was at a disadvantage. It would be different if it were a fair fight.)
He said he owed a debt of gratitude to the eyewitness who posted a video of the brawl on YouTube. The video shows Tulfo getting beaten up, while he was being held back by airport security.
Message for Claudine, Raymart and listeners
Tulfo had this message for Santiago and Barretto: "Kung ano yung pinoproject niyo sa camera – mabait, wholesome, matulungin sa kapwa, ganun dapat pinapakita niyo sa totoong buhay." (However you project yourselves in front of the camera - kind, wholesome, helpful - that's how you should be in real life.)
Tulfo then asked the television audience to "not judge people too quickly." He said some people assume the worst of the Tulfos, especially given their public persona as no-nonsense critics of abusive and incompetent officials and people in power.