Probe to unmask PCOO execs who benefited from P60-M DOT-Bitag ad deal —Trillanes

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday said they will explore reports that the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) received a cut from the P60 million advertisement deal between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. (BMUI).

"Bagong development 'yan. Pagka magkaron tayo ng investigation dito ay mapapalalim pa natin 'yung kaso na 'yan," Trillanes said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"As it is, talagang krimen na ito, maliwanag na ito na plunder, lagpas na sa P50 million threshold. This is a series of acts committed by a group of people kaya sila involved dito sa plunder na ito," he added.

GMA News Online sought PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar’s comment but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Andanar said on Monday that he would not comment on the controversial deal for the meantime.

"The COA [Commission on Audit] has already issued a notice of disallowance to DOT. On the other hand, PTV has submitted the required documents to COA. We are waiting for COA’s decision on PTV’s submitted documents," he said in a text message to GMA News.

"I will only comment on the case once we receive COA’s review."

Trillanes on Monday said he would file plunder charges against former Tourism secretary Wanda Teo and her brother Ben Tulfo, owner of BMUI. This was on top of a resolution calling for a Senate investigation on the deal.

He said his request for the Senate Committee on Tourism to head the investigation was shunted to the blue ribbon committee, which he said has no interest in taking on the probe as its chairman, Senator Richard Gordon, is an administration ally.

"Kaalyado nila 'yan, si Senator Gordon, at baka rin natatakot dito sa mga Tulfo, baka birahin sila sa media, baka ganun ang dahilan," Trillanes said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said in a press briefing that the names of PCOO officials and others who allegedly benefited from the P60 million deal should be revealed to the public.

Columnist Ramon Tulfo, Teo and Ben's brother, had also asked for a government probe into the deal as well "as those in the upper echelons of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, who allowed the irregular contract."

Ben Tulfo, for his part, asserted that he would not return the sum weeks after saying that he was not consulted by Teo's lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, on the latter's announcement that the payment will be returned.

Roque called Tulfo's remarks in a separate radio interview "unfortunate" especially as President Rodrigo Duterte wants legal processes to hold those responsible for the controversial deal responsible.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said it will leave to the "proper authorities" all matters related to the plunder charges Trillanes plans to file against Teo and her brothers. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News