Raffy Tulfo

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[[File:Raffy Tulfo RK.jpg|thumb|165px|right|Judge Judy, Jerry Springer and Maury Povich rolled into one.]]{{youtubenav}}
'''Rafael "Raffy" Teshiba Tulfo''' {{lived|1960}} is a [[Filipino]] politician, [[journalist]], television and internet personality who is best known for his weekday [[radio]] programme ''Wanted sa Radyo'' on {{wpl|Radyo5 92.3 News FM}} as well as the ''Raffy Tulfo in Action'' [[YouTube]] channel, both focusing on public affairs and issues concerning the poor and marginalised. He, along with his brothers Erwin and Mon, became known for their "action-based" brand of public service, often if not always directly intervening in issues with indigent Filipinos.

==Views==
===COVID-19===
In a series of videos, Tulfo made claims about the supposed benefits of [[ivermectin]] and {{wpl|Lianhua Qingwen}} as a cheaper alternative to [[evidence-based medicine]] such as {{wpl|remdesivir}} for [[COVID-19]], lamenting about how the {{wpl|Department of Health (Philippines)|Department of Health}} (through its {{wpl|Food and Drug Administration (Philippines)|Food and Drug Administration|,}} formerly known as the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD)), is supposedly trying to [[Big Pharma|profit]] from the pandemic by prioritizing antiviral drugs sold at extortionate prices over "cures" which can be afforded by the masses,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-TNm6KLD1Q Duque At Domingo, Hinagupit!] by Raffy Tulfo (Apr 3, 2021) ''YouTube''.</ref> in spite of scientific studies and experts debunking their supposed efficacy against COVID and/or its symptoms.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFc6xCWW-6Y Real Doctor debunks Tulfo + Ivermectin] by Doc Adam (Apr 9, 2021) ''YouTube''.</ref> While he may have brought up the stark fact that yes, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are ''indeed'' filled to the brim with COVID patients, using what amounts to off-label veterinary medicine<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/28/technology/ivermectin-animal-medicine-shortage.html "How Covid Misinformation Created a Run on Animal Medicine".] by Erin Woo (September 28, 2021)  ''New York Times.''</ref> or [[traditional Chinese medicine]] of unproven efficacy without resorting to [[peer-review]]ed evidence, and arguing that ''"[[What's the harm|but no one died from trying it, right?]]"'', not to mention [[Anti-vaccination movement|arguing against the necessity of vaccinations]] due to said alternative cures, is not only deceitful but also reckless and dangerous.

===On public service===
[[File:Queue of Tulfo complainants.jpg|thumb|180px|left|A queue of complainants ranging from domestic abuse victims to stranded wives seeking for a ticket back home.]]
Tulfo has earned a reputation for his so-called "action-based" public service where he and his team directly intervene with disputes involving indigent individuals, families and/or groups. Sure, he earned plaudits from the Filipino mainstream, or in local parlance, the "masa", and thus has a large following on social media,<ref>Domanais, J., Dorado, J., & Peñaflor, A. J. (2019). YouTube Statistics: A Look at Its Effect on YouTube’s Digital Marketing.</ref> but deep behind this is a [[business]] that is cynically exploiting the woes of the poor for YouTube clout and ad revenue both from his videos and the sale of branded merchandise.<ref name="libayanthreat">[https://www.reddit.com/r/LawStudentsPH/comments/16ywmd2/raffy_tulfo_has_made_death_threats_to_our_panyero/ Raffy Tulfo has made Death Threats to Our Panyero Atty. Libayan. This is A Clear Abuse of Power.]</ref> Tulfo argued that his programmes have helped enact swift justice especially considering the state of the judiciary in the Philippines;<ref>[https://www.scoutmag.ph/66593/cancel-culture-instant-justice-schadenfreude-call-out-culture/ I was for ‘cancel culture,’ then it became all about self-righteousness]</ref> Ranny Randolf B. Libayan, a lawyer who runs a full-service law firm in the country who later gained prominence on YouTube as a staunch critic of Tulfo, pointed out flaws in his system, however, calling out the journalist for his arrogance and what is essentially a glorified form of [[Vigilante|vigilantism]], bypassing [[due process]]<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/ONENewsPH/videos/raffy-tulfo-addresses-tulfo-justice-system-criticism/2910527479258810/ ONE News - Raffy Tulfo addresses 'Tulfo justice system' criticism]</ref> and [[Appeal to emotion|conditioning viewers]] to trust in his programme, thus garnering a larger viewership. Similar concerns were brought regarding [[demonization]], public humiliation<ref>[https://www.proquest.com/openview/064da6839e64853e94745d74b2ebb42b/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y The Traumatic Impact of Media Humiliation, Misrepresentation and Victim-Shaming on Narrative Identity and Well-Being]</ref> and [[Mobocracy|trial by publicity]] with those involved,<ref>[https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/02/21/broadcaster-raffy-tulfo-joins-2022-senate-race Broadcaster Raffy Tulfo joins 2022 Senate race]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ0Xd10d0PA @Raffy Tulfo in Action vs. Supreme Court/ Judiciary] by Ranny Randolf B. Libayan (Jun 5, 2021) ''YouTube''.</ref><ref>[https://pinoystack.com/blog/opinion/raffy-tulfo-in-action-is-not-court-of-justice-but-a-business/ Raffy Tulfo In Action Is Not Court of Justice But A Business] (June 6, 2021) ''Pinoy Stack''.</ref><ref>[https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/11/10/19/the-tulfos-are-the-face-of-philippine-justice-and-that-should-bother-us The Tulfos are the face of Philippine Justice, and that should bother us] by Gian Lao (Nov 10 2019) ''ABS-CBN''.</ref> one such case was of a schoolteacher whom Tulfo humiliated in a video, prompting her to quit her job,<ref>[https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2019/11/22/1970964/raffy-tulfo-criticized-making-teacher-quit-job Raffy Tulfo criticized for making teacher quit job] by Jan Milo Severo (November 22, 2019 | 2:44pm) ''Philstar Global''.</ref><ref>[https://philnews.ph/2019/11/23/tulfo-memes-memes-about-raffy-tulfos-attack-against-teacher/ TULFO MEMES: Memes About Raffy Tulfo's Attack Against Teacher]</ref><ref>[https://dnx.news/schadenfreude-and-tulfo/ Schadenfreude and Tulfo]</ref> not to mention cashing in on recent scandals such as the death of cabin crew member {{wpl|Death of Christine Dacera|Christine Dacera|,}} who was found dead at a hotel room after a New Year's Day party in 2021 and became an instant gossip fodder, no thanks to one of the suspects being the son of late singer {{wpl|Claire dela Fuente||.}}<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPugZhq8XK4 Panayam Ni Idol Raffy Sa Best Friend Ni Christine Dacera] by Raffy Tulfo (Jan 7, 2021) ''YouTube''.</ref>

His credibility has also been questioned due to a number of libel suits ascribed to him, such as in 2003 when a foreign exchange dealer named Michael Guy filed a libel suit against him when Guy was accused by Tulfo of seeking protection from [[tax]] fraud prosecution. Tulfo was forced to admit that he got the information from "reliable sources" i.e. [[hearsay]]. Libel counts as a "crime of moral turpitude" in Philippine law, which is grounds for electoral disqualification, yet it hasn't stopped Tulfo from running for a senatorial position in 2022.<ref>[https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/opinion-hold-tulfo-accountable/ Isumbong mo si Tulfo] (Nov 17, 2021 7:56 PM PHT) ''Rappler''.</ref> And in regards to extramarital relationships being a recurring subject on his programmes, this would [[hypocrite|bite back]] at him when a woman named Julie Licup-Pearson filed bigamy charges against Tulfo in 2019 for allegedly abandoning her and their children in favour of other women.<ref>[https://balita.net.ph/2021/10/06/viral-raffy-tulfo-pinupukol-ng-isyu-ng-mga-netizens-pinabayaan-na-nga-ba-ang-unang-pamilya/ VIRAL: Raffy Tulfo, pinupukol ng isyu ng mga netizens: pinabayaan na nga ba ang unang pamilya?]</ref> Licup would later upload videos describing her experiences with her estranged husband.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/@julielicupvlogs4142/search?query=raffy Julie Licup vlogs]</ref> Tulfo vehemently denies this, however, claiming that Licup's bigamy case against him is nothing more than an attempt at blackmail and extortion.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPY6N40-cAM RAFFY TULFO, KINIKIKILAN NG P100 MILLION!]</ref><ref>[https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1129198/raffy-tulfo-cries-extortion-over-bigamy-case Raffy Tulfo cries ‘extortion’ over bigamy case]</ref>

Tulfo claims that a portion of his earnings from YouTube goes to himself and his family, but a huge chunk of it goes to the people they help.<ref>[https://filipinotimes.net/entertainment/2020/10/08/raffy-tulfo-reveals-how-much-he-earns-from-his-youtube-channel/ Raffy Tulfo reveals how much he earns from his YouTube channel]</ref><ref>[https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/10/07/20/more-than-p2-billion-earned-heres-how-raffy-tulfo-spends-the-money-he-gets-from-youtube More than P2 billion earned: Here's how Raffy Tulfo spends the money he gets from YouTube]</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/e284UmLlW70?t=1980 LIVE: Frontline Pilipinas Mediacon]</ref> However, it was later revealed that Raffy Tulfo In Action is a foundation, and as such it is supposed to operate as a non-profit organization.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ZTQ6ei_KM RAFFY TULFO IN ACTION VS. ATTY. LIBAYAN - COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT]</ref>

And if Tulfo's sensationalism and penchant for subjecting defendants and even complainants to endless public humiliation and mob shaming isn't enough, in October 2023 Libayan made a live stream video where he alleged that Tulfo sent veiled death threats against him on a ''Wanted sa Radyo'' episode, with his supporters also following suit.<ref name="libayanthreat"/><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo1OJo1NYpI TATAOB DAW AKO AT SASABOG SABI NI RAFFY TULFO]</ref> If the following allegations are to be believed, it would be grounds for grave misconduct on part of Tulfo especially as a legislator. Instead of apologizing however, Atty. Libayan is being sued in relation with this issue instead which is a sign of his true colors.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4F9x1efA_0]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyh1o6F37zQ]</ref> This proves that Philippines needs an anti-SLAPP law to protect people from being silenced by being sued.

A company which is given a cease-and-desist order by the SEC has Tulfo as endorser<ref>[https://tribune.net.ph/2023/12/defiant-ponzi-has-tulfo-as-endorser/]</ref> However, Tulfo's lawyer claimed that he's an endorser of the products only, he also claimed, "Endorsing the quality of the product does not equal how it is sold" and that how they sell the product, whether or not in accordance with law, Tulfo is out of it<ref>[https://tribune.net.ph/2023/12/tulfo-product-endorser-only/]</ref>. This issue raises ethical questions over politicians as endorsers and to make matters worse, he (Tulfo's lawyer) said that they are drafting a proper legal action against the author of the article about Tulfo endorsing products of that company.<ref>[https://tribune.net.ph/2023/12/ethical-questions-raised-over-politicians-as-endorsers/]</ref>

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tulfo, Raffy}}
[[Category:Alternative medicine promoters]]
[[Category:Anti-vaccination movement]]
[[Category:Asian politicians]]
[[Category:Government incompetence]]
[[Category:Journalists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Philippines]]
[[Category:Shysters]]
[[Category:Vigilantes]]
[[Category:YouTube]]

Categories: Alternative medicine promoters, Anti-vaccination movement, Asian politicians, Government incompetence, Journalists, Living people, Philippines, Shysters, Vigilantes, YouTube