Senator Antonio Trillanes IV mulled filing plunder charges Wednesday against former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo on Wednesday and her brothers Ben and Erwin over a P60-million advertising controversy being probed by the Senate.
The three appeared before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Tuesday to answer allegations they committed conflict of interest when the government’s Department of Tourism, headed at the time the agreement was inked, paid P60 million in advertising fees to the state-run People’s Television 4 block timer “Kilos Pronto” hosted by her brothers.
Meanwhile, Teo said she felt insulted by allegations she took millions worth of items at Duty Free Philippines for her personal use.
She was replying to questions following a report by the Commission on Audit which revealed that during Teo’s tenure, the Department of Tourism bought P2.52 million worth of items from Duty Free stores using its shares in Duty Free’s annual net profits.
According to the Commission, the withdrawn items included “toiletries, kitchen wares, beddings, appliances, canned goods, branded bags, luxury brand cosmetics, chocolates and others.”
“There is no basis why they should place advertisements in a program that has low ratings,” said Trillanes.
Added he: “The alibi of former DoT secretary Teo that she was unaware that her brother Ben Tulfo owned Kilos-Pronto is unbelievable..”
The TV and radio host earlier told senators their family was ready to face charges that might be filed against them.
The family also refused to return the P60 million advertising funds to the government.
“Returning the money is tantamount to saying that we did something illegal,” Ben Tulfo told the hearing.