Teo says brother already spent P60 M; Tulfo insists on not returning money
MANILA, Philippines — Contradicting the earlier statement of her lawyer, former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo said her brother, Ben Tulfo, already spent the P60 million payment they received for running advertisements on their television show.
In May, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio announced that the Tulfos have agreed to return the payment they received from the Department of Tourism.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the controversial DOT advertisement deal, Teo clarified that Topacio's statement was only a suggestion.
"It was suggested by Atty. Topacio, he was my lawyer before, if they could return the money so at the time it was complicated already so I asked my brother if they could return the money," Teo told the Senate panel.
The former Tourism secretary admitted that she was also not in favor of Topacio's suggestion back then as it would be hard to return the money that his brother already spent.
"Actually, when Atty. Topacio told me, I said it's hard because they already spent the money, they already paid, they already delivered but he said, 'You have to do an ultimate sacrifice,'" Teo said.
She admitted that Tulfo was initially open to the idea of returning the money but later on changed his mind.
"The contract has been completed. The money has been spent. Where will they get the money to return?" she said.
Tulfo, meanwhile, insisted that he will not return the money as they have "faithfully delivered" the agreement with the government agency.
According to Tulfo, he was surpised that Topacio already announced that they would be returning the money when he told Teo's former counsel that he would consult his lawyer first.
"So now, returning the money is tantamount to saying that we did something illegal but during those time, I told Atty. Topacio we'll consult my lawyer 'cause I have a legal counsel," Tulfo told the Senate panel.
"And then after that he spoke to the media without an approval because he was not representing for me. He was representing Wanda (Tulfo-Teo) and that would be tantamount to what, conspiracy," he added.
Teo, her brothers Ben and Erwin Tulfo are all firm in their stand that the advertisement deal between the DOT and state-run PTV went through the appropriate process.
In her opening statement, Teo claimed that she was defamed and maligned by allegations of corruption and incompetence.
"There was nothing illegal in the said contract. The transaction was between DOT and PTV-4. It is a government-to-government contract within the executive department and all payments were paid directly to PTV-4," Teo said.
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