Gordon says ex-Tourism chief, Ben Tulfo liable for 60-M ad deal

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Richard Gordon believes that former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo and her brother, Ben Tulfo are liable in the controversial multi-million peso advertising deal.

When Teo was then secretary of the Department of Tourism (DoT), the agency granted a PHP60-million advertising contract to Kilos Pronto, a show produced by Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. owned by her brother,  Ben Tulfo. The said show is airing on the state-run PTV-4.

This did not sit right with the Commission on Audit (COA) as it viewed that there is a “conflict of interest” in the transaction.

On Tuesday, Gordon was convinced with COA’s findings, that there is a liability on the part of the Tulfos, PTV-4, and all people involved in the deal.

He said that he will still study the matter but as of now he believes a plunder case isn’t applicable.

“I don’t think it will be a case for plunder. In the very first place, the money was used for TV ads, they did not steal the money. They did business, that is the mistake there,” Gordon said.

However, he said that a case of graft and corruption could be filed against them.

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 08/ 15 /18)