MANILA — The legal team of former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has welcomed veteran journalist Ramon “Mon” Tulfo’s public admission that he circulated inaccurate information alleging the detained lawmaker had been secretly leaving his jail facility.
Romualdez’s lawyer, Ade Fajardo, said Tulfo’s retraction was significant after the allegations spread publicly and exposed his client to criticism and suspicion.
“Mr. Tulfo has admitted that he was fed incorrect information, failed to independently verify it, and subsequently passed it on to the public,” Fajardo said in a statement.
Tulfo earlier claimed that Romualdez had been sneaking out of the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas through a back entrance and using an ambulance to avoid detection.
He also alleged that the facility’s warden deliberately cut off electricity to prevent CCTV cameras from recording the supposed movements.
However, Tulfo subsequently acknowledged that his report was inaccurate and admitted that he failed to verify the information before making it public.
“No such thing happened when the facts started coming in yesterday. It was fiction. I goofed. No excuses. I should have first checked and cross-checked that report I received on Romualdez,” Tulfo said in a post on Thursday.
Fajardo said the journalist’s clarification was consistent with the testimony of Jail Superintendent Lourdes Pacion, who categorically denied that Romualdez had left the detention center using an ambulance or any other vehicle without authorization.
The retraction followed a formal demand letter sent by Romualdez’s lawyers, asking Tulfo to stop repeating the allegations and remove or correct his original social media post with a clear clarification. The letter also warned of possible legal action should the claims continue to be circulated.
“We appreciate Mr. Tulfo’s willingness to acknowledge his mistake publicly. It takes responsibility to correct an erroneous report, especially after it has gained widespread attention,” Fajardo said.
“At the same time, the incident demonstrates the serious harm that can result when unverified information is presented to the public as established fact,” he added.
The lawyer warned that repeatedly publishing unsubstantiated accusations could make them appear credible, particularly when they involve individuals already facing public scrutiny and ongoing court proceedings.
“Ang kasinungalingan, kapag paulit-ulit na ipinakalat, ay maaaring magmukhang katotohanan. Pero sa huli, ang katotohanan pa rin ang dapat manaig,” Fajardo said.
“We hope this serves as a reminder that allegations, particularly those involving persons facing judicial proceedings, must be verified before they are published or repeated,” he added.
Fajardo maintained that Romualdez remains in lawful custody and continues to comply with court directives and detention facility regulations./PN
