Cesar Montano resigns as Tourism Promotions Board chief

MANILA, Philippines — Cesar Montano has tendered his resignation as the Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board.

Montano filed his resignation days after meeting with the newly appointed Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat to discuss corruption allegations hounding the TPB.

Montano was on holdover capacity following the expiration of his term.

Puyat earlier said Montano does not need to resign because his tenure would end in June.

“In my mind, he doesn’t really have to resign because come June, under the law, Tourism Act of 2009, the Tourism Congress will nominate a new chief,” Puyat said in English and Filipino in a press briefing last Thursday.

“Whether he resigns or not, he knows he is on holdover [capacity] and that the TPB would elect a new COO. The TPB would nominate a COO to [the] secretary and I would nominate the COO to the president,” she added.

Montano was sworn in as TPB’s chief operating officer in December 2016.

Allegations vs Montano

During his tenure, employees of the TPB filed complaints against Montano. They listed 24 irregularities which he allegedly committed.

Among the complaints mentioned against Montano include his incompetence as COO. He allegedly rarely reports to resigned Tourism Chief Wanda Tulfo-Teo, failed to grasp information during meetings, converting the TPB Board Room and executive lounge into an exclusive area for bodyguards and staff, and entering into multimillion-peso deals.

Montano also allegedly brought a woman and exhibited “unpleasant acts” in a golfing event. He was also accused of questionable travels and violating the law on nepotism for supposedly hiring relatives, stuntman, gardener, personal assistant, family friends and brother into the board.

Buhay Carinderia suspended

Days before his resignation, TPB’s project “Buhay Carinderia” project, launched in lieu of the annual Madrid Fusion Manila, was also put in question because a report from The STAR claiming that  Montano issued three checks amounting to P80 million in favor of the organizer and proponent of the event. The P80 million is reportedly an advance payment for the project which has yet to start, and has a total budget of P320 million.

Puyat then met with Montano to clarify the issue and later on learned that the project did not undergo any proper bidding.

The DOT chief suspended the project and asked the Commission on Audit to look into it as well as the other projects of TPB and the tourism agency.

For his part, Montano pinned down Teo in the project claiming that the former DOT chief referred the organizer, Linda Legaspi, to him for funding.

READ: Montano tags Wanda Teo in Carinderia mess

Legapi, who received the P80 million fund and redefined Buhay Carinderia, is from international marketing firm Marylindbert International.

Montano clarified that the TPB approved the project without public bidding as Legaspi wanted “financial sponsorship.” 

“The financial sponsorship has long been in practice… this is above board so no one among us benefited from it, including me,” Montano said.

According to Montano, Legaspi is willing to return the P80 million.