The Commission on Audit has unearthed more anomalies under the term of resigned Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo.
This time, Teo and former Undersecretary for Administration and Special Concerns Rolando Cañizal were found to have withdrawn various merchandise — including luxury bags and cosmetics, chocolates and kitchenware — from the state-owned Duty Free Philippines Corp. (DFPC).
State auditors said some P2.17 million worth of goods were unlawfully deducted from the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) share of Duty Free’s net profits.
Another P346,446.80 worth of items pulled out were not recorded in DFPC’s books.
As an attached agency of the DOT, DFPC had to remit some of its profits to the DOT to help fund its projects.
Teo insisted that the DOT under her watch “would not have allowed receipt by the DOT of any DFPC items and merchandise unless the lawful processes [had been] duly observed and followed.”