Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua criticized veteran journalist Ramon Tulfo for tagging alleged suspects in the murder of CAAP official Joana Infante as “Muslims,” calling it an irresponsible use of religion in reporting.
Macacua emphasized that the reaction of the Muslim community is not meant to distract from justice for Infante, but to remind media workers that religion or ethnicity should not define suspects when irrelevant.
Maguindanao del Sur Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu echoed the disapproval, stating Tulfo’s remarks were discriminatory and unfairly generalized the Maranao Muslim community.
Both leaders highlighted that Islam teaches values of peace, justice, and compassion, and that Tulfo’s repeated criticisms have tarnished the dignity of Muslims, particularly those from Lanao del Sur.
Macacua noted that several Muslim professionals have flagged Tulfo for his habitual negative remarks, which some attribute to past personal discomforts with the Maranao community during his father’s assignment in Lanao del Sur.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 24, 2026
