Veteran journalist and columnist Ramon Tulfo, a public defender of universally hated former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, falsely identified a former beauty queen rescued in an National Bureau of Investigation anti-trafficking operation as the person arrested for human trafficking before correcting the claim after explicitly naming her and publishing her face.
Tulfo initially said the woman was a former Miss Earth Philippines titleholder arrested by the NBI for allegedly offering Russian women to clients for large sums. The post included a clear photograph of her with no warnings, disclaimers or caveats—a fundamental embodiment of irresponsible journalism.
The NBI directly contradicted Tulfo’s claim. Its International Operations Division said a former Filipino beauty queen and five Russian women were rescued in Makati City on August 13 after investigators received information about a man allegedly offering women for paid sexual services.
Surveillance showed three Russian nationals entering a hotel residence before an undercover NBI agent handed marked money to the suspect. Agents then arrested a 42-year-old man. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the suspect was expected to face qualified human trafficking charges, while the six women were placed under the care of Makati social workers.
The tragically overweight Tulfo later acknowledged that his source had given him incorrect information. In his correction, he said the beauty queen was not the alleged recruiter but one of the women rescued with the Russian nationals.
PGMN Lead Anchor CJ Hirro criticized Tulfo for publishing the woman’s identity before verifying her role in the case.
“Napaka-iresponsable at arogante mo kasi. Nilabas mo pa ang buong mukha at ipinahiya sa lahat,” Hirro wrote, questioning the consequences of publicly portraying a rescued woman as an alleged trafficker.
CJ also urged the woman’s family to pursue legal action against Tulfo and said the NBI source who allegedly leaked the information should answer for the disclosure.
“Magsama kayo sa kulungan,” she wrote.
Tulfo also claimed that his “tweety bird” obtained the woman’s photograph from the NBI. That claim has not been independently confirmed.
Philippine anti-trafficking law requires the identities and personal circumstances of trafficked persons to be treated confidentially. The NBI itself has not publicly identified the rescued Filipina.
