(Eagle News) — The Palace on Monday, April 30, said it would probe the P60-million payment made by People’s Television Network Inc. (PTNI) to Ben Tulfo’s Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. (BMUI) for the airing of Department of Tourism (DOT) advertisements.
The DOT is headed by Tulfo’s sister, Wanda Teo.
“Ang alam ko umabot na ‘yung balita (kay Presidente Rodrigo Duterte). I can confirm na meron nang let’s look into this. Gusto niyang malaman ang puno’t dulo ng pinag-uusapan dito,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Earlier, the Commission on Audit, in its 2017 audit report, red-flagged the transaction between BMUI and PTNI, saying it was “not supported with proper documents,” such as the Memorandum of Agreement and Certificate of Performance.
It noted that there was no basis for how the payments of P22,089,560 on May 11, 2017, P18.96 million on November 8, 2017, and P18.96 million on December 15, 2017 for the airing of the ads in the program “Kilos Pronto” were arrived at, because the MOA on file did not require PTNI to remit the Blocktimer BMUI for the advertisements aired.
“Verbal requests for the submission of copy of the MOA were made with the Finance and Airtime Management/Programming Divisions, however, the Audit Team was informed that the MOA was under review by the Legal Unit,” COA said.
“Due to the absence of the documents mentioned and the deficiencies noted, the accuracy, legality and validity of the payments made to Blocktimer BMUI in the amount of P60,009,560.00 could not be ascertained,” the agency added.