Senate probe into complaints vs Cesar Montano sought

Even as the Presidential Action Center (PACE) continues to investigate a complaint against Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) chief Cesar Montano, a senator on Wednesday also called for a Senate probe on the same complaint. (Photo by Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Manila – http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhr613.html, Public Domain,)

MANILA—Even as the Presidential Action Center (PACE) continues to investigate a complaint against Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) chief Cesar Montano, a senator on Wednesday also called for a Senate probe on the same complaint.

Sen. Nancy Binay, chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism, called for a probe into the complaints filed by TPB staff against Montano for allegedly engaging in supposed irregular contracts, mismanagement, and nepotism.

Under Senate Resolution No. 326, Binay urged the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to look into the complaint filed just three months after Montano’s appointment on December.

SRN 236 was also referred to the tourism committee on Tuesday.

“It is imperative that we look into the complaints against Mr. Montano. He is leading an agency tasked with domestic and international promotions of the Department of Tourism.

As such, he must act with the protection of the image of the TPB and the government in mind at all times,” Binay said.

She also urged Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo to oversee the investigation.

“We cannot allow our efforts to promote the country as a top tourist destination to be ruined by controversies, especially one involving an official of our tourism agency,” she added.

In the seven-page letter of complaint filed at the PACE, Montano was accused of irregularities including entering into multi-million peso deals without approval from the board, hiring his own staff whose functions were redundant with current employees and the questionable use public funds.

In a hearing before the Commission on Appointments (CA) last Dec. 7. 2016, Teo admitted that Montano was not her first choice to head the TPB.