Bitag to return P60-M payments for DOT ads aired on PTV —Teo’s lawyer

The counsel of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo on Monday said her brother Ben Tulfo's Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. (BMU) will return the P60-million payments it received to air advertisements of the Department of Tourism (DOT) on People's Television Network (PTV).

In a radio interview, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said the decision came after a family meeting between Teo and her brothers.

"Alam ko na there were moves towards that last week pero hindi pa finalized. And it was only today that Secretary Wanda called me and said, 'Atty. Ferdie ito na ang napag-usapan namin na nag-family meeting na ito. Ibabalik na 'yung pera,'" Topacio said.

Topacio added the family decided to return the money and the siblings will pool their funds to meet the amount if needed.

"'Kung hindi man mabawi, kasi nasweldo na 'yun, nagamit na sa production, mag-aambag-ambag na lang kaming magkakapatid para hindi na lang magkaroon ng kahihiyan,'" he added, quoting Teo.

In its annual audit report for the year 2017, the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged People's Television Network Inc. for its payments to BMU, saying that DOT's commercial advertisements "were not supported with proper documents such as the Memorandum of Agreement and Certificate of Performance."

The commercial advertisements were aired on the PTV program "Kilos Pronto."

Topacio said Teo wants to get to the bottom of the issue, but clarified that there was nothing illegal with the transaction.

"Talagang hindi ito ilegal, pero talagang nakakahiya at hindi naging magandang repleksyon not only on the DOT but on the presidency as well," he said.

"Siyempre siya as the head of the agency, gusto rin niyang malaman where it went wrong. Somewhere along the line, definitely something went wrong. Gusto niyang malaman not only para hindi na maulit ito but to improve the system na ma-strengthen din 'yung checks and balances within the DOT," he added.

Topacio, however, indicated that if there is indeed negligence on Teo's part as regards the issue, resignation is one of her options.

"She wants to investigate first. Kung lumalabas siguro na talagang may negligence din siya, that is one of her options," he said.

Teo's husband resigns as TIEZA director

Meanwhile, Topacio also said that Teo's husband, Roberto "Bobby" Teo, has also resigned as director of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

Roberto, however, is still attending several of TIEZA's board meetings to fulfill his duties.

"Kaya lang naman siya uma-attend dahil there is such a thing as dereliction of duty. Kung after resignation, hindi na a-attend ang lahat ng director, e mapa-paralyze ang TIEZA at hindi naman maganda 'yun," Topacio said.

Topacio pointed out that Roberto is not an appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Paki-clarify lang, sabi nila, na hindi Duterte appointee si Mr. Bobby Teo, kundi Aquino appointee, na nag-resign na naman po," he said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque echoed Topacio's pronouncements.

"He [Roberto Teo] has long tendered his resignation. Pero wala pa pong kapalit kaya daw po nandoon pa siya. Pero ngayon po raw yata ang sinabi niya na hindi na talaga siya pupunta sa mga meetings," Roque said in a news conference.

"Ang natatakot lang daw po siya ay iyong dereliction of duty ‘no, iyong dahil ‘pag wala pang kapalit baka naman sabihin, ‘Bakit mo binakante?’

Roque added that Roberto Teo's act could be considered an "irrevocable resignation." —KG, GMA News