(Eagle News) — Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo tendered her resignation letter on Monday, her lawyer said on Tuesday, May 8.
Ferdinand Topacio said she tendered her resignation prior to the start of the Cabinet meeting.
“Her letter was personally handed by her to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in the afternoon. Late in the evening, after the Cabinet meeting was when she saw the President to talk to him in private,” Topacio said.
Topacio made the statement minutes after he denied a media report that said that President Rodrigo Duterte himself had asked Teo to resign.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier confirmed that the President and Teo had a long private conversation on Monday evening, after the Cabinet meeting, but said he could not confirm the contents of the report published by the Philippine Star.
The Commission on Audit has red-flagged the P60-million placement of tourism advertisements in “Kilos Pronto,” a PTV-4 program run by Bitag Media Unlimited, incorporated (BMUI) produced by Teo’s brothers, Ben and Erwin Tulfo.
Teo has denied any wrongdoing, saying the contract was reviewed by the DOT’s legal unit. Jodi Bustos