The Raffy Tulfo Justice System
Before “Raffy Tulfo In Action” there used to be a show entitled “Face-To-Face.” Both shows may have different concepts but they do have similarities in terms of gaining audience by serving scandalous cases of people who are at each other’s throats. Schadenfreude or the pleasure over someone’s misfortune explains why a show like Tulfo’s keeps on getting millions of views. The misfortune of others such as their personal issues being publicized gives the audience the feeling of satisfaction and superiority—at the same time, pity or despise—because it is not them who is being humiliated. In addition, there is a segment from the show where they ask about the audience’s opinions about the cases which in return, gives the audience an opportunity to involve themselves more on the show.
Even before watching the compilation of episodes, I have already watched some full length versions of the show. Nonetheless, I never liked the format because the show is a clear illustration of “trial by publicity.” Everyone who is convicted of a crime deserves due process and equal protection of the law and I believe that the show does the exact opposite because the decision is always based on Tulfo’s perspective even if he is not a judge nor a lawyer. Worse, he is a broadcast journalist who must have forgotten the first element of journalism which is “the obligation to the truth.” By that, journalists can be as transparent as possible about the sources of facts but not to the point of calling out an ordinary citizen in a national program as it deprives a person from their constitutional rights and places their dignity at stake.
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