City officials claim the broadcaster ‘embarrassed’ the mayor
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After allegedly “maligning” and “embarrassing” Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia on his television program “Bitag,” broadcaster Ben Tulfo may soon be considered “persona non-grata” in Bacolod City. Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yesterday revealed a “majority of the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP)” will caucus to consider passing such a resolution.
During the said episode, Tulfo aired the complaints of a certain “Norma” who claimed to have not been paid for taking part in a basketball event last October in Bacolod City. Upon receiving the call, the mayor said he was unaware of the event and characterized the broadcaster was “lecturing and embarrassing” him on live TV.
The vice mayor called the allegations “all lies and half-truths” and said the event was not part of the annual MassKara Festival, which Tulfo had claimed.
He added, he was also earlier approached by “Norma” but under a different name and that her claims were different a couple months ago.
Familiaran added, the event in question was organized by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Meanwhile, City Councilor Al Victor Espino backed the vice mayor and said the city government had nothing to do with the event. The city official noted, he was part of the event as he chairs the SP Peace and Order Committee and it was being run by the local police department.
He said he received a phone call last Friday from an unknown number but was not able to take it. He later found out it was Tulfo.
Espino said he will call a press conference this week on the matter./DGB, WDJ