(Eagle News)—-No corruption.
This, according to newly named Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, was the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte when he offered her the post vacated by Wanda Teo.
In a television interview, Romulo-Puyat, an agriculture undersecretary, said the offer was made on Tuesday, May 8.
“Trabaho kasi, normal trabaho. Trabaho pinag-uusapan namin. Tapos biglang binanggit niya na, ‘Uy, alam mo bang nag-resign si Secretary Teo?… O gusto mo ba? Kasi bagay sa ‘yo. Your credentials speak for yourself. Ang tagal mo na sa DA (Department of Agriculture). I think it’s about time,’ sabi niya,” Romulo-Puyat said.
She said she did not believe it at first until she was introduced as the new tourism secretary to former senator Serge Osmeña, and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go broke the news to reporters.
“Siyempre, overwhelmed (ako),” she said.
She said she would report to the DA until she takes her oath as the new tourism head.
Romulo-Puyat was named tourism secretary after Teo announced, througj her lawyer, that she had resigned.
Her resignation came after the Commission on Audit red-flagged the DOT placement of P60 million worth of tourism advertisements in “Kilos Pronto,” her brothers’ program.