MANILA – Wanda Tulfo-Teo has resigned as Department of Tourism secretary, her lawyer said on Tuesday.
Teo tendered her resignation before the Cabinet meeting in Malacañang on Monday night, said Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.
Teo is embroiled in a controversy on the alleged irregularity in the DOT’s advertisement placement on a television show run by her brothers in the government-owned PTV-4.
“Her (resignation) letter was personally handed by her to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in the afternoon (on Monday),” Topacio said in a statement.
“Later in the evening after the Cabinet meeting was when she saw the President (Rodrigo Duterte) to talk to him in private.”
President Duterte has accepted Teo’s resignation, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque confirmed in a press briefing Tuesday.
Contrary to what was reported in a newspaper Tuesday, Duterte did not fire Teo, clarified Topacio.
“(Teo’s) 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,” the lawyer said.
The Commission on Audit has found that the Tourism department paid P60 million in advertisements on “Kilos Pronto,” a block-timer show on PTV-4, to Bitag Media Unlimited, Inc. without any contract.
“Kilos Pronto” is produced by Bitag Media, which is run by Tulfo brothers Ramon, Ben and Raffy – brothers of Teo.
Teo insisted that there was no conflict of interest – DOT had a contract with People’s Television Network, Inc. (which runs PTV-4) and the network placed the ads on her brothers’ show.
She also denied knowledge about the running of the ads on “Kilos Pronto” but the COA said a DOT agreement with the PTNI specifically stated that the ads shall be aired on the show.
Teo insisted that she has done no wrongdoing.
“All the dealings of the DOT went through all legal processes, were aboveboard, done in good faith, and with total absence of malice,” Topacio said.
Teo was “honored and privileged” to have served as Tourism secretary under the Duterte administration.
“She has done her level best to discharge her duty to promote tourism both domestically and internationally,” said Topacio.
On Monday Topacio told a radio interview that Bitag Media will return P60 million in payments it received to air DOT ads.
Teo’s husband Roberto also resigned as Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority director, Topacio added. (With Prince Golez/PN)
