Senate blue ribbon panel to probe P60-M DOT ad deal

Senator Richard Gordon on Tuesday said the Senate blue ribbon committee, which he heads, will probe the P60-million advertisement deal between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and PTV-4.

"Talagang hinog na 'yan sa tingin ko," Gordon said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV. "Sa tingin ko, 'pag hinearing ko 'yang sa mga Tulfo, dun sa nakikita naming nakalap na ebidensya ng COA (Commission on Audit) so far, matindi na 'yun."

"Palagay ko 'pag nakuha namin 'yan, magre-recommend na kami i-file kaagad 'yung kaso samantalang meron na ring interes 'yung Ombudsman kaya lang they are very confidential sa mga kasong fina-filean nila," he added.

Conflict of interest

Gordon noted that there was obvious conflict of interest in the deal between the DOT, which was then under Secretary Wanda Teo, and Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. (BMUI), which is owned by her brother, through PTV-4.

"Ako nakakasiguro dun sa kaso, na halatang-halata naman na may conflict of interest, nakuha ng mga Tulfos sa kanilang kapatid na Secretary Teo yung kontrata," he said.

"Talagang mukhang may prima facie evidence na pwede silang file-an. Mali pa yung kanilang procurement rules na finollow," Gordon added.

He added that the committee will also look into other alleged questionable transactions made by Teo and former Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Cesar Montano.

Trillanes

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, in an earlier interview on Dobol B sa News TV, said the Senate blue ribbon committee refused to take on his petition when his request was shunted to that committee instead of the Committee on Tourism.

"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.

Gordon refused to comment on Trillanes' tirade, but said they have requested documents from COA and the Department of Tourism as early as May 31.

He said COA will give them the report on the DOT issue on Wednesday.

"'Di kami basta nag-iimbestiga. Siyempre kinukuha muna namin yung facts of the case, any applicable laws," Gordon said.

But based on current evidence, Gordon noted, "It would appear na itong kaso na 'to appears to be an open-and-shut case. Kung talagang tutuusin, pwede nang i-file ito, hinog na ito, i-file na kagad sa Ombudsman."

Ben Tulfo, Teo's brother, refused to return the P60,009,560 paid by PTV-4 to his company BMUI to air DOT advertisement.

He asserted that PTV-4 still owed Bitag money from their principal client, the DOT, and that there was no irregularity in BMUI accepting a deal that would air advertisements from a department his sister used to head. —KBK, GMA News