Duterte asked Cesar Montano to quit, says DOT source

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte asked Cesar Montano to resign from his post as chief operating officer of the Tourism Promotions Board, a source from the Department of Tourism told GMA News.

According to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras", Montano even asked Duterte if he could leave the position in June but was told that he should quit immediately.

GMA News has tried to get Montano's comment but he has yet to answer calls or text messages.

Montano resigned on Monday amid the investigation that new Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat ordered on the P320-million Buhay Carinderia culinary tourism project.

The project, funded by the TPB, was reportedly undertaken without public bidding. Already, P80 million has reportedly been spent for the program.

Puyat has since suspended Buhay Carinderia.

Montano on Friday said that the P80 million for the Buhay Carinderia project was approved by the board.

"Regarding bidding, itong Buhay Carinderia ay approved by the board, at ang sole owner nito ay si Linda Legaspi, so ang hinihingi nila ay financial sponsorship. Itong financial sponsorship ay ginagawa matagal na, more than 10 years ng [Department of Tourism] at TPB," Montano said in an interview on "Dobol B sa News TV."

"Long before I assumed office, nandidiyan na 'yan, it's been a practice," he added.

Montano said the Commission on Audit never issued any memorandum prohibiting the TPB from allowing sponsorships.

"Kung tatanungin naman natin ang COA kung may problema 'yung financial sponsorship, wala silang binibigay. Hindi sila (TPB) na-i-issue-han ng IOM or disallowance, wala regarding financial sponsorship," he said.

Montano said it was former Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo who introduced him to Legaspi of Marylindbert International, the sole project proponent.

"Support na lang, bale nilagay niya (Teo) sa TPB para kami po 'yung magbigay ng financial support," he said.

Montano denied he earned from the project.

"Aboveboard po lahat 'yan, wala po akong kinita diyan, hindi po ako dapat kumita diyan," he said. —NB, GMA News