DOT exec De Castro may be cleared from P60-M ad deal mess —Gordon

Tourism Undersecretary Kat De Castro may not be held liable to the controversial P60-million advertising deal that the Department of Tourism entered into with Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. (BMUI), Senator Richard Gordon said on Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Gordon, chair of the blue ribbon committee who is investigating the supposedly anomalous transaction, weighed in on the possible liability of De Castro.

The ad deal made with BMUI being owned by Ben Tulfo, the brother of former Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, has given rise to allegations of conflict of interest.

DOT's advertisements under question aired on BMUI's "Kilos Pronto" program carried by state-run PTV 4.

De Castro chairs of the DOT's Bids and Awards Committee, which oversees the bidding process of the contractors for the projects and activities of the department.

Gordon said that De Castro testified during the hearing that the advertising deal was "agency to agency only," meaning it did not have to go through the bidding process under her committee.

"Baka makalusot siya doon, dahil tinanong ko sa kanya pwede ba itong kontrata sa Bids and Awards Committee? Hindi naman nila tinalakay yun e. Agency contract yan, pwede nang hindi i-bidding yan," Gordon said.

De Castro likewise admitted during hearing that she did not know Tulfo heads BMUI when they decided to procure TV spot placements in PTV 4.

She said she only learned that BMUI is owned by the brother of the former tourism secretary when the issue was at its height in May.

Gordon said that while De Castro should have known such connection, there is nothing that could have informed the tourism undersecretary about the perceived conflict of interest.

"Dapat malaman niya yun. Pero ang sinabi niya (De Castro) doon ay agency to agency ito. Hindi niya sinabi na pinakita sa kanya yung kontrata, ang sabi sa kanila, gustong mag-advertise sa PTV 4. Sabi niya walang problema because agency to agency contract yan, pwede yan," Gordon said.

"Ang hindi niya sinabi o ang hindi niya alam na ito ay kontrata sa isang kapatid ni Secretary Teo na bawal. Yun ang kakulangan doon," he added.

Asked if De Castro should have called the attention of the authorities as to the connection of Teo and Tulfo, the senator said: "We have no evidence to that effect."

"Ang evidence na sinasabi ko ay government to government contract, baka yun lang ang tinanong sa kanya," he added.

What must be established, Gordon said, is if PTV 4 was aware of the connection of Teo and Tulfo when entering into the contract.

"Kailangan talaga ang matukoy diyan ay yung PTV 4 na alam nila may contract si Ben Tulfo, may block timer sila, apat na kontrata ang dumaan sa kanila, alam nila na pipirmahan yung kapatid ni Ben Tulfo yan, ay dapat pinaalam na nila agad," he said.

Teo earlier maintained that there is nothing irregular in the advertisement deal.

"My conscience is clear, the DOT transactions went through proper procedure. DOT accomplishments during my term are on record," Teo said in a text message to GMA News Online, as quoted by her counsel, last July. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News