Lawmakers call for DOT chief's resignation

MANILA - Members of the Makabayan bloc on Wednesday, May 2, called for the resignation of Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo over her department's anomalous P60-million ad placement on her brother's radio program on government-run PTV-4.

"Delicadeza demands that Secretary Teo must resign," said Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao in a press conference at the House of Representatives.

He added: "Yung galit ng gobyernong ito sa usaping nepotismo, yung galit daw nila sa dating administrasyon, tila nangyayari naman ngayon eh."

(This administration is supposed to be averse to nepotism, but it seems it is happening again.)

The House opposition bloc made the call days after the Commission on Audit (COA) released its findings on the anomalous transactions between the DOT and Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. (BMUI), a media outfit headed by Teo's brother, Ben Tulfo.

State auditors said the transactions were not supported with proper documents, such as a Memorandum of Agreement, Certificate of Performance, duly-approved budget utilization request, and billing statement detailing the media firm's deliverables.

Teo has denied allegations of conflict of interest, saying the transaction was between the DOT and the PTV-4 and not with her brother's production house.

ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio said the conflict of interest is very clear.

He said: “Meron ba ditong naniniwala na hindi niya raw alam na mapupunta o mapapakinabangan ng kanyang mga kapatid sa pamamagitan ng kanilang programa sa PTV-4 ang pondong ito?”

(Is there somebody here who believes that she did not know that the ad placement would go to her brothers' show?)

“Malinaw na palusot lang yung statement ni Secretary Teo na sa pagitan lang ito ng DOT at PTV-4, when klaro naman, nasa MOA (memorandum of agreement) na binabanggit yung programa ng kanyang kapatid,” Tinio added.

Tinio urged the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the matter.

France Castro, a lawmaker who also represents the ACT Teachers Party-list, for her part said that President Rodrigo Duterte should begin investigation Teo over the deal as he claims to hate corruption.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin of the Magnificent 7 bloc has also joined the Makabayan bloc's call for Teo to resign "if she continues to insist that there is no impropriety" in the deal.

He added: "It’s highly improper and clear conflict of interest to award it to your siblings. While it was G2G contract the end user was Bitag Productions that her brother owned."