Contrary to its earlier promise, Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. has not yet returned to the Department of Tourism (DOT) the P60 million it received for advertising placements, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said on Wednesday.
It has already been more than a month since lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel of resigned Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, announced that Bitag Media would return the money to the DOT.
“It has not yet been returned,” Puyat said in the regular Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum on Wednesday when asked if the advertising funds have been returned.
READ: Bitag Media to return P60M pay for DOT ad placements – lawyer
Teo, the biological sister of Ben Tulfo of Bitag Media, was accused of conflict of interest and was urged by critics of the government to resign out of delicadeza.
Topacio earlier said that Tulfo had promised to return the money even if it was already spent.
The Commission on Audit (COA), Puyat said, would be the one to decide what action should be taken against Bitag Media over the issue.
“COA is in charge (on the issue),” Puyat told reporters.
READ: COA: Teo’s DOT paid P60M for ads on brother Tulfo’s PTV 4 show
It was COA that disclosed that the DOT placed P60 million worth of advertisements on “Kilos Pronto,” a government television program produced by Tulfo’s Bitag Media.
INQUIRER.net is still trying to get the side of Bitag Media and of former Secretary Teo but they have yet to reply as of posting time. /vvp