SENATOR Nancy Binay on Wednesday called for an investigation into the complaints filed by employees of the Tourism Promotions Board against their chief operating officer, Cesar Montano, for engaging in supposed irregular contracts, mismanagement, and nepotism.
“It is imperative that we look into the complaints against Mr. Montano. He is leading an agency tasked with domestic and international promotions of the Department of Tourism. As such, he must act with the protection of the image of the TPB and the government in mind at all times,” said Binay, chairperson of the Senate committee on tourism.
Binay also called on Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo to look into this matter.
“We cannot allow our efforts to promote the country as a top tourist destination to be ruined by controversies, especially one involving an official of our tourism agency,” she added.
Binay has filed Senate Resolution No. 326 which urged the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon) to look into the complaint lodged by TPB employees against Montano at the Presidential Action Center just three months after his appointment.
SRN 236 was also referred to the tourism committee Wednesday.
“This investigation will enable us to review our laws and ensure that issues of malfeasance, misfeasance and charges of graft and corruption in the government are immediately addressed,” Binay stressed.
She noted that the country had a big potenial to be known as a top tourist destination so that this issue should be immediately resolved since it could destroy the coutnry’s image.
“We need to know the truth on this issue as soon as possible so we can focus on more important problems– promoting tourist spots in the country,” she said.
Montano is facing strings of complants which included alleged spending millions of pesos on non-related tourism projects and hiring 18 people consisting of his stuntmen, friends, and relatives.