Hothead or peacemaker? Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial pick for China envoy divides opinion
- Broadcaster and columnist Ramon Tulfo has a reputation as a controversial firebrand but insists he’s really a ‘peacemaker’.
The Philippines’ newest envoy to China is a controversial journalist who once made headlines by giving a karate kick to a film actress who then beat him black and blue.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Ramon Tulfo, 72, as the first special envoy for public diplomacy to China upon Tulfo’s request, the controversial Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist has revealed. Tulfo said Duterte, 73, wanted him to run for senator but he declined because he did not have sufficient campaign funding.
Tulfo, who attended the same school as the president, offered instead to become “a special envoy to China.”
“As a special envoy to China, which pays only P1 per year, I could retain my public service programme – Isumbong mo kay Tulfo (Complain to Tulfo),” he wrote in a column earlier this month. Tulfo would only get half that amount since the appointment is only for six months. Tulfo, who could not be reached for comment, did not say why.
He said his work would begin as soon as Beijing accepted his credentials.
As special envoy, Tulfo explained he would “facilitate applications and issuance of permits to Chinese investors”, in particular obtaining leases for idle agricultural land and fish ponds for contract farming. This would generate “millions” of jobs, he said.
