MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is willing to help recover the P60 million paid by the Department of Tourism (DoT) to Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. for ad placements if they will be asked to help in the investigation.
For now, there is none, he said.
Guevarra added that alleged anomalous transactions involving high-level government officials “falls under the primary investigative jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman.”
“Should a graft case prosper and reach the Sandiganbayan, the recovery of the P60 million paid to Ben Tulfo’s company will be automatically part of that action,” Guevarra explained.
“In any event, if the DOJ will be asked to help in the investigation, we are ready to act on our own and/or coordinate with the Ombudsman,” Guevarra said.
The issue on the DOT’s ad placement with Bitag Media resurfaced after one of the Tulfo brothers, Erwin, came under fire for his statements against Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)
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