The week’s top story

May 10, 2012 | 7:31 pm

CLAUDINE Barretto in tears, left; newsman Ramon Tulfo with a swollen face. VIDEOGRAB FROM YOUTUBE

News of the airport melee involving show-biz couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto and their companions, who reportedly ganged up on Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo following an altercation, first broke on Inquirer.net about an hour after the incident.

It happened around noon on May 6, a Sunday, generally a slow day in the newsroom. But in the next several hours, as Inquirer reporters filed updates, readers’ interest grew by leaps and bounds, creating unusually heavy traffic on the online site.

The next day, May 7, the Inquirer ran the story—“Raymart Santiago, pals gang up on Mon Tulfo at Naia 3”—as banner or main headline. Its online version proceeded to generate almost 200,000 page views for a period of four days (May 6-9), topping the site’s most-read stories list across all sections, up till press time.

Related stories

Two related stories—“Ramon Tulfo files raps vs Santiago-Barretto over airport brawl” and “Ramon Tulfo: Raymart’s group ganged up on me while Claudine kept cussing”—followed closely.

The headline story was way ahead of the total page views for the opinion section, (which was at No. 7), business (No. 9) and sports (No. 11) combined.

Online news on the resumption of the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona — specifically “Corona daughter now owns Basa-Guidote” on May 9—ranked No. 24 for the four-day period.

So what made the airport incident the Inquirer’s hottest story of the week?

First, it was about celebrities losing their decorum and engaging in a brawl. (See related story.)

Readers who viewed a video of the action posted on YouTube, had a field day commenting, for instance, on how Claudine forced her way to land punches on Tulfo and then complained on TV newscasts about being the victim.

Divided

Second, the aggrieved party, apparently—considering his bruises and swollen face—was a hard-hitting columnist who was also widely perceived as a tough guy.

Public opinion is still divided, understandably. Many are inclined to believe that whoever threw the first punch is the one at fault. Others point out that the main issue is press freedom.

In any case, the incident obviously touched a raw nerve… and the story is still unfolding. Lawsuits have been filed by the contending parties. TV5 suspended Tulfo’s three brothers from a show where they threatened Santiago and Barretto. Police is still investigating alleged ineptness on the part of airport security.

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Tags: Claudine Barretto , Inquirer top stories , Ramon Tulfo , Raymart Santiago

Lin012

Siguro kung walang video na lumabas sa youtube sure ako tumpak ang drama ni claudine, panalo sana pang FAMAS! Malamang hindi nila narecognize si Tulfo kaagad, akala ordinaryong citizen lang kaya binanatan agad. Kawawang mga pobreng pinoy kung nagkataon!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YAU43R25CAHGNYPHE6HLAM3V6Y Benjamin

umaarte pa na nagpapasaklolo sa gabriela,,,, ang dapat na ayudahan ng gabriela yung mga babaeng ground crew ng airline na pinagmumura at pinagsisigawan ni bareto sa harap ng kaniyang mga anak …siya ang dapat kasuhan ng child abuse dahil dapat inuna nya ang kapakanan ng mga anak nya at hinde yung pagwawala at pang-iinsulto sa ibang tao…
pinklace88

And the best actress award goes to……………………. the laos & has been KSP Claudine Bareta
cora_s54

artista nga pero akala naman nila mabobola nila lahat, hay naku makakarma rin kayo sa ginawa ninyo….
athenapallas

Claudine’s parents must be very proud of her. Ang galing mag-mura sa airline employees na wala namang kasalanan, mag- name dropping na connected sya kay Gokongwei at kaya nyang ipatanggal sa trabaho yung poor ground stewardess, at sumali sa bugbugan ng walang patumangga (did she miss taking her anti-crazy pill?) . Hindi kaya sila tinuruan ng mga magulang nila ng gud molars at rayt kandak? tsk..tsk..tsk…bad bad role models for their fans.
lliam_S

The interview of the stewardess’ mother tells it all. For now, we can’t decide for sure on the issue regarding who threw the first punch but one thing’s for sure: She was at fault for berating the stewardess in the first place. The stewardess is apparently in a state of shock because she declined to speak to the reporters and hasn’t reported to work for days. Claudine really had her actress ability going for her with the crying and dramatic limping and all. Unfortunately, the video is there and it tells the story. Peace..

pinklace88

what if Tulfo was not there, just ordinary citizens who will not raise the incident to the attention of those unaware of what happened? so, this claudine bungangera will again go away with it just like nothing happened? for all we know, bka bigyan pa yan ng perks ng Cebu Pacific so she will not speak about the off loaded baggage.. see? kaya raymart & claudine were so eager almost fighting to death to get that phone from Mr Tulfo, mabibisto ang matagal na nilang nakasanayan gawin, manlait ng kapwa at the very chance they get.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HIRIW4OWEIHTILXO4IPYMKLOHE eric

typikal yabang. u will never work again, galit public sa yo. without public support ur nothing……………………………………..
roque2015

magtanong kayo sa dati niyang mga maid kung paano siya magtrato ng katulong? pareho lang sila ng mga kapatid niya.
kazoo25

napapansin nyo, walaang mga taga showbiz na nagtatanggol kina claudine,

http://www.facebook.com/ednalotho Edna Lotho

meron, please read the article in the inquirer, just now, interviews from the other artists, please read, what Miss Gina Alajar and Mr. Richard Gutierrez, and the comments below, i think the readers already knows who’s at fault. Kaya ayaw nang magsalita nang ibang artista.

kazoo25

saan madam?
kazoo25

okay nabasa ko na. pero aside from gina alajar and richard gutierrez walang nagdedefend kina claudine. mostly neutral or doesn’t agree with claudine’s behaviour.
http://www.facebook.com/ednalotho Edna Lotho

Which means that they know that what this husband and wife team was wrong,,,,,i think the organization of artist should also give sanctions to them. If this organization will not do anything about this, para na rin nila sinabing, ganun din ang ugali nila, ang ipinakita nang dalawang ito, ay ugali din nang mga artista dito sa pilipinas. Nakakahiya at Nakakalungkot. The likes of Jaime dela Rosa, Paraluman and the late Fernandon Poe Jr., the values they have instilled in this industry, went down the drain because of this incident. Sayang lang.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Leonora-Faustina-Calingasan/100003101244925 Leonora Faustina Calingasan

The best part of this chaos is not to watch any television or movies of this two dependent low class so- called actor and actress. They earn their living through the support of the movie goers. They will not eat with out support from the public, They have no classy profession nor highly education to find a job. Poor Claudine and Raymart. I applauded the Cebu pacific staff, they earn their living through hard work . This instances should be a lesson to those public figures to behave modestly because the food they put on their stomach and on their table was provided by the masses indirectly by watching their movies.

http://twitter.com/ernestonoel1 hopelovefaith

Claudine & Raymart–I am not sure what kind of advice your families are giving you. Here’s my unsolicited advice–ask for an apology from Mon Tulfo. In your apology, include all the Filipinos who watched your unruly behavior. Admit that you have not set the best example for the young people who looks up to you as a public figure.

There is strength in humility. If you choose humility, you will close this ugly chapter in your life sooner rather than cover lies with more lies due to pride.

kazoo25

i just want claudine to apologize to ms bocboc and ms ilagan. i don’t care about mr tulfo because he’s at fault as well

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