Ex-DOT chief, PTV-4 exec fingerpoint each other on P60M ad deal

Former and incumbent officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and state-run PTV-4 pointed fingers at each other when they faced a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

During the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee, Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo reiterated that she had no idea that the P60 million advertisement deal was placed on her brother’s show, Kilos Pronto, with PTV-4.

“I don’t know that Kilos Pronto is of Ben Tulfo. All I know is his Bitag,” she said, responding to queries of Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee,

“Hindi nyo alam na may programa ang kaptid nyo na Kilos Pronto?” Gordon asked.

“Hindi po. Wala po kasi akong time manood,” Tulfo-Teo said.

But Gordon pointed out that there were three documents signed by the former official that clearly showed the money would go to Ben Tulfo’s show.

Tulfo-Teo insisted she did not know the show was his brother’s and had she known about it, she would have not signed the papers for the deal.

People’s Television Network Inc. President Dino Antonio Apolonio told the committee, however, that the initial draft of the deal actually came from the DOT.

“DOT ang nagbigay ng contract sa inyo na nakalagay na ‘yung Kilos Pronto? Sec. Teo?” Gordon asked.

“No, your honor. They made the proposal,” Tulfo-Teo said, pointing out that the name of the show was already in the proposal.

“I’m sorry but that’s not true. Sila po ang nagbigay ng proposal sa amin,” she added.

But Gordon noted that it was Ben Tulfo, who signed the contract.

“It did not ring any bells to you, Tulfo ang nakapirma?” the senator said, directing his question to Apolonio.

“Secretary Tulfo is the sister of Ben Tulfo. it did not occur to you or to Wanda?” Gordon asked again.

But the PTV4 official said that as far as they are concerned, they did not have any conflicts with either the DOT or Ben Tulfo, the producer of the show. /kga