President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the resignation of Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Wanda Teo-Tulfo today, May 8.
“Yes, accepted,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s said in a text message sent to reporters, when asked if Duterte had already accepted Teo’s letter of resignation.
Earlier, Roque announced Teo’s resignation after speaking with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea who confirmed that Teo submitted her resignation letter prior to the Cabinet meeting which happened last night, May 7.
In a separate statement, Teo’s lawyer and spokesperson Ferdinand Topacio said Teo personally handed the letter to Medialdea.
“Her letter was personally handed by her to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in the [Monday] afternoon,” Topacio said.
“Her decision to leave her position was made after a long and deliberate reflection and soul-searching with respect to the events that have transpired the past few weeks.”
Many called for Teo’s resignation after the Commission on Audit (COA) questioned the release of Php60-million to the show “Kilos Pronto” hosted by Teo’s brothers Ben and Erwin Tulfo.
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.
