(Eagle News) — Resigned Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo and a former Tourism official ordered the withdrawal of almost P2.52 million worth of goods from Duty Free in 2017, the Commission on Audit found.
According to COA, Teo issued memos for the withdrawal of P43,885 worth of items, while Undersecretary for Administration and Special Concerns Rolando Cañizal ordered the withdrawal of items worth P1.37 million.
According to COA, Duty Free also withdrew items for the Tourism Department worth P758,525.
Section 105 of the Tourism Act said that a minimum of 50 percent of Duty Free’s annual net profit shall be automatically remitted to the Office of the Tourism Secretary, but this was only “to fund tourism programs and projects.”
“The withdrawn merchandise consisted of toiletries, kitchen wares, beddings, appliances, canned goods, branded bags, luxury brand cosmetics, chocolates and others,” COA said.
“Stop the practice of directly charging from DOT’s share in DFPC’s net profits for the cost of items withdrawn by DOT from the DFPC stores and other payments made by DFPC for and in behalf of the DOT pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009),” the COA said.