Gordon eyes possible graft raps vs. ex-DOT chief Teo, Ben Tulfo, PTV 4 execs

Senator Richard Gordon said Tuesday there is a possible criminal liability on the part of former Tourism secretary Wanda Teo, her brother Ben Tulfo of Bitag Media Unlimited Inc., and officials of PTV4 in the controversial advertising deal.

“Sa tingin ko may liability, tama ang sinabi ng COA (Commission on Audit) na may liability. Lahat ng sinabi ng COA tama ‘yun. Liability on the part of the Tulfos, PTV4, on the part [of] all the other people pero it goes down as it goes down,” Gordon, blue ribbon committee chairperson, told reporters after the hearing.

The senator said he does not want to give a conclusion yet as he still has to study the matter. Still, Gordon said he believes graft and corruption charges could be filed against those involved.

“Graft, I don’t think it will be a case for plunder. Unang-una ginamit naman ang pera for TV ads, hindi naman binulsa. Nagnegosyo sila, ‘yun ang masama. Mukhang nabigyan ng ayuda ang negosyo ng kapatid. Di ako naniniwala na hindi nila alam ‘yun,” he said.

Gordon, however, agreed that Erwin Tulfo was not part of the deal.

“Si Erwin? Hindi naman siya kasama sa korporasyon. Pero si Ben at ang kanyang kapatid, si Wanda is a Cabinet official dapat alam nya, alam ng staff niya na ‘yung ginagawa niya ay binabasa nila ang kontrata nakalagay dun specified ‘yung programa ng kanyang kapatid. Dapat ‘yun nabantayan so talagang di maalis ang perception and even the conflict of interest,” he said.

Gordon said he is not convinced that the former Tourism secretary does not know that her brother produces Kilos Pronto.

He added that PTV 4 officials should have raised alarm on the possible conflict of interest when they were drafting the contract.

“Dapat nalaman din nila, they should have blown the whistle na, ‘boss, conflict of interest ‘yan, baka madali tayo d’yan.’ So it is very clear on the contract, although sabi ko nga I would use the word blind, naglagay sila ng space by using PTV4 to deal with [a] blocktimer. Ang deal is DOT and network para bigyan ng pera ‘yun, para ang pera ibabayad naman kina Tulfo,” he said.

‘No conflict of interest’

During the hearing, Teo reiterated she was not aware that Kilos Pronto is associated with her brother, Ben.

“Hindi ko alam na si Ben (Tulfo) ay Kilos Pronto. All I know of is Ben is with Bitag. Contract is between PTV 4 and DOT.  Beyond that hindi ko alam kung saan ilalagay ang ads,” she said.

She added that had she known, she would not have signed the contract. “They could have told me, hindi ko alam. Had I known, I would not have signed the contract.” 

On the other hand, Ben insisted that there was no conflict of interest on the matter.

“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.

Hearing is enough

Meanwhile, Gordon said he believes the hearing is enough for him to write a committee report on the particular issue. He said he will call another hearing on the Buhay Carinderia campaign and the alleged purchases at Duty Free.

“Its sealed by their own lips, by the evidence on record. D’un sa nakalagay, alam mo ang parties they are related, ipinadaan in a circuitous way. It’s all the hallmarks of going around the conflict of interest provision,” he said.

“I can already submit a report on this matter,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News