Duterte orders probe into P60 million DOT advertisement

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has ordered an investigation into the P60-million ad placement by the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the television program of his media allies and brothers of tourism chief Wanda Tulfo-Teo.

But presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. told a press briefing yesterday that there is “no reason” for Teo to leave while the Palace-initiated investigation is ongoing.

In a separate briefing, Teo said the Commission on Audit (COA) should go after the government-run People’s Television Network Inc. (PTNI) instead of the DOT if it wants to find out why the P60-million ad placements ended up in Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. (BMUI) of her brother Ben Tulfo. 

“We have no problems with our COA. Probably it is the COA of PTV-4,” Teo said.

COA had earlier flagged the contract in its 2017 audit report.

“The reported P60-million contract awarded by Secretary Teo to her siblings. She already had her press conference – she belied such reports. However, I would like to confirm that the Palace is looking into the matter. That’s it,” Roque said.

He said details of the COA report had already reached the President.

“I assure you, the Palace will investigate the matter. We have to accept the findings of the COA. I understand that is a final finding. The Palace will investigate on its own,” he added.

Roque said COA’s annual audit report on PTNI revealed that the network and the DOT signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the latter’s purchase of airtime with daily magazine news-type program Kilos Pronto.

Kilos Pronto is run by Ben Tulfo’s Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. The program is co-hosted by Tulfo brothers Ben and Erwin with TV broadcaster Alex Santos.

Under the MOA, the PTNI will air a six-minute DOT advertisement segment and a three-minute DOT spot on Kilos Pronto.

COA said three checks totaling P60,009,560 were processed and released by PTNI to BMUI on May 11, Nov. 8 and Dec. 15, 2017, representing payments for the DOT’s advertising placements.

COA noted the payments were released without the necessary supporting documents such as a MOA/Contract between PTNI and BMUI, Certificate of Performance, duly approved Budget Utilization Request (BUR) and Billing Statement detailing the deliverables.

PTNI has disputed reports that the payments were not supported by the required documents.

Teo, meanwhile, clarified that the DOT also made ad placements in other networks last year.

She said the DOT paid ABS-CBN and GMA Network P23 million last year for the airing of its commercial titled “Anak.”

“We also have TV commercials and features to CNN Philippines P20 million, CNN International P51 million and Discovery Channel P51 million,” Teo said.

Asked why the budget for ad placements on PTV-4 was significantly higher than that for other local networks, tourism assistant secretary and spokesman Frederick Alegre said it was because the deal with PTNI was a one-year contract that includes the airing of a weekly TV show.

“It’s also long term because TV spots have to be placed over a period of time,” Alegre said.

Ben Tulfo, for his part, said the transaction with PTV-4 was “aboveboard.” He posted on Facebook that they had submitted all documents required for transacting with government.

Meanwhile, newly appointed tourism Undersecretary Jose Gabriel La Viña denied Ben Tulfo’s allegation that he leaked COA documents to the media to destroy Teo’s image and pave the way for his takeover.

“That’s not my ambition in life to be secretary of tourism,” La Viña said. – With Catherine Talavera, Ghio Ong