The Palace said on Monday, May 7, that Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Teo’s brothers’ plan to return the Php60-million ad placement money would not affect her fate in the cabinet.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the President will have the final word on his confidence on Teo.
“It’s up to the President. The issue is, ‘Is Wanda staying or not ?’ Only the President can decide that no matter what they do,” Roque said.
“The only issue, as far as the President is concerned, is whether or not Teo is staying and all these will have no impact on the decision of the President. Whether or not the Ombudsman will charge them, that’s up to the Ombudsman. That’s beyond the power of the President.”
Earlier today, May 7, Teo’s lawyer said the Tulfo brothers, Ben and Erwin, mull of returning the Php60-million they received to air DOT advertisements on their show, “Kilos Pronto”.
“Bagama’t wala po sa kaniya (Erwin Tulfo) iyung P60 million at nagastos na po, gagawa po sila ng paraan at io-offer nila na ibalik na po up to the last centavo kung anuman po ang naibayad sa kanila,” the lawyer told DZMM.
The Commission on Audit (COA) questioned the release of Php60-million to the Tulfo brothers’ TV show.
The deal, which was divided into three payment schemes, P22.09 million in May, P18.96 million in November and another P18.96 million in December, lacked a memorandum of agreement or contract, COA said.
In defense, Teo said there was no conflict of interest in the deal since it happened between DOT and PTV 4, not between DOT and Kilos Pronto producers, Bitag Media Unlimited Inc (BMUI), which is also owned by the brothers.
