Ben Tulfo insists no conflict of interest on P60-M ad deal with DOT

Broadcaster Ben Tulfo insisted before senators on Tuesday that there was no conflict of interest when his company, Bitag Media Unlimited Inc., accepted the advertising deal with the Department of Tourism as offered by state-run PTV 4.

During the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the controversial P60-million ad deal, Tulfo said he neither asked for the advertising deal nor for any favor from DOT.

He also said he never went to the DOT office when it was still headed by his sister, Wanda Teo, who resigned at the heels of the corruption controversy.

“Sa akin po wala akong ugnayan sa kapatid ko na si Wanda Teo. Hindi po ako kumatok sa kanilang pintuan, humingi ng pabor, humingi ng advertisement o commercial. Hindi po ako pumunta sa kanilang tanggapan, hindi ko alam kung saan po ang DOT. Ang pagkakaalam ko ang DOT sa Luneta,” Tulfo said.

He even questioned accusations that there was conflict of interest in the deal.

“Wala ni ningka na pumunta po sa tanggapan ni Mrs. Teo. So yun ang sinasabi namin na bakit kami magkaroon ng interes. Kaninong interes ang pinag uusapan? Gusto namin na makatulong  para sa bayan na gamit ang PTV4,” he said.

Senator Richard Gordon, the committee chairman, pointed out that Tulfo cannot separate his business from his being a brother of Teo.

“So you are trying to tell us that this is purely business transaction with persons who offered you the contract. But it cannot be divorced that your sister is DOT secretary,” he said.

Tulfo said he was bothered with the accusation. “Ako ay nababagabag sa palaging pino-point out na conflict of interest dahil kapatid ko si Wanda,” he said. —KBK, GMA News