MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte would ask Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo about a report by The STAR that a make-up artist and utility clerks accompanied her in her foreign trips in the last two years.
"Well if it’s been published, I’m sure the president will ask. It’s in his nature always to ask," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing Thursday when asked if Malacañang would verify the report.
Roque said questions about the trip should be addressed to Teo, who has been silent about the issue as of Wednesday.
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"Perhaps it would be better if you ask Secretary Wanda Teo because I cannot speak on her behalf. She has her own spokesperson. Please direct questions on this regard to Secretary Teo," Roque said.
"We do not know yet if their (trips) are unnecessary because it involved the Secretary of Tourism. It's really her work to sell the Philippines as a travel destination."
"But if the issue is about bringing the make-up artist, please ask her. I cannot answer for Secretary Teo because I have no authority to answer on her behalf," he added.
Roque noted that all government workers are subject to the existing guidelines of the Commission on Audit (COA) on foreign trips. But he believes Teo's foreign trips are understandable because of the nature of her work.
"Even under the guidelines set by the President, the first guideline is it must be related to your function. So maybe we will understand why the secretary of tourism had many trips abroad because because she has to sell the Philippines as a destination," the presidential spokesman said.
"But with regard to her companions, there are also guidelines for that and these are scrutinized by COA. If there are violations of pertinent rules and regulations, COA would release it," he added.
Documents obtained by The STAR revealed that a make-up artist and office clerks joined Teo in her foreign travels to different countries in 2016 and 2017.
The tourism chief traveled to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, US and Canada in the last two years to attend international travel fairs and to conduct inventory of foreign offices of the tourism department.
A make-up artist and his assistant accompanied Teo in her various international and domestic travels while utility workers, drivers and clerks joined her in her trips to Dubai, Taiwan, Cambodia, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, France, United States, Italy and Australia.
Earlier this year, Duterte vowed to look into the trips of his officials and to dismiss those who leave the country every month. He also promised to implement a "starvation diet" on foreign trips, saying officials who are traveling frequently are no longer performing their functions properly.
To prove that he is serious in his policy against junkets, Duterte fired officials accused of making unnecessary trips like former interior secretary Ismael Sueno, former Presidential Commission on Urban Poor Terry Ridon and his four commissioners, Development Academy of the Philippines president Elba Cruz, former Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Dionisio Santiago, former Maritime Industry Authority administrator Marcial Amaro III and Commission on Higher Education chair Patricia Licuanan.
Last month, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a memorandum stating that foreign trips would only be allowed if their projected costs are not excessive and if they would bring "substantial benefit" to the country.
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