AFP, DILG strip Tulfo brothers of security escorts

The Tulfo brothers are seen to lose their security details from the state forces after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reportedly ordered the pullout of the police personnel assigned to them.

"I directed the PNP to pull out all police security details of Erwin Tulfo including those with his brothers effective today," Año was quoted by Presidential Communications Operations Office Usec. Lorraine Badoy in a Facebook post.

The Philippine National Police, on the other hand, said that the two cops assigned to radio broadcaster Erwin Tulfo were just scheduled for a regular inspection this week — a process undergone by all PNP personnel on security detail.

"The continuation of security detail will largely depend on the outcome of this regular review process and the revalidation of the level of threats against the protectees," PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said in a statement.

"This standard protocol applies to all authorized protectees, not only to Erwin Tulfo," he added.

Erwin Tulfo drew the ire of some after publicly berating retired general and incumbent Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista for supposedly not being easily reachable for an interview.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, on the other hand, clarified that the withdrawal of the two marine escorts of special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo has nothing to do with the issue involving his brother.

"Due to the dearth of personnel, the Philippine Marine Corps has started recalling its Marines who were detailed outside the Corps as security detail," AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.

He added that as early as last year, the principals were already informed about the pull out of Marine escorts.

"The fact that it took effect only recently is part of the process," Arevalo said. — LA, GMA News