Wanda Teo quits amid DOT ad controversy

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:52 p.m.) — Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo has tendered her resignation following a one-on-one meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday evening.

Teo earlier insisted that she will not resign despite calls for her to step down following the P60-million worth of advertisements that the DOT placed in a television program produced by her brothers, Ben and Erwin Tulfo.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that Teo submitted her resignation to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday evening before the start of the Cabinet meeting.

Ferdinand Topacio, Teo's legal counsel and spokesperson, insisted that Duterte did not demand Teo to resign.

"Her decision to leave her position was made after a long and deliberate reflection and soul-searching with respect to the events that have transpired the past few weeks," Topacio said in a statement.

The Commission on Audit earlier revealed that the advertisements on the television program on PTV 4 did not have documents showing the payments were valid and legal.

Topacio earlier confirmed that Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. where Ben Tulfo is chief executive officer and founder, would return the P60 million paid by the DOT for its advertisements on "Kilos Pronto" show on PTV 4.

Teo's husband, Roberto Teo, had also resigned from the board of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority or TIEZA after being criticized for conflict of interest and nepotism.

Roberto was listed as a member of TIEZA's board of directors and a member of all six committees.

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