The Commission on Audit (COA) instructed the Department of Tourism (DOT) to pay Duty Free Philippines Corp (DFPC) Php2.5 million for luxurious items purchased by then secretary of tourism Wanda Teo.
According to COA’s report, P2.17 million-worth of merchandise and P346,446.80-worth of luxury goods were delivered to Teo and her officials in 2017.
The items withdrawn by Teo’s office were toiletries, kitchen wares, beddings, appliances, canned goods, branded bags, luxury brand cosmetics, and chocolates, among others.
“The 277 items of merchandise withdrawn under various GPS during the period from May to September 2017 were not recorded in the DFPC books as of December 31, 2017, thereby understating the receivable account and overstating the merchandise inventory,” explained COA.
In response, DOT agreed to pay to the DFPC.
“Management agreed to bill the DOT for the subject expenditures charged to the DOT-Trust Liability Account and record the same as receivables from the DOT under the account due from other (national government agencies),” state auditors said.
Meanwhile, the report also questioned DFPC for Php3.36 million-worth of signature bags and shoes, and appliances including inverter refrigerators, LED television sets, and coffee machines that were released as corporate giveaways.
