Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo. INQUIRER.NET/CATHY MIRANDA
President Rodrigo Duterte had a “long, private talk” with Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo in Malacañang past midnight Tuesday amid reports that the Chief Executive had asked her to resign.
Online reports claimed Tuesday that the President had fired Teo after the Cabinet meeting Monday.
“Wala akong kompirmasyon at wala akong impormasyon (I cannot confirm and I do not have information on that matter),” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque when asked for confirmation over radio dzMM.
Roque said Teo attended the Cabinet meeting Monday amid the controversy about P60-million in Department of Tourism advertising money ending up on her brother’s show on People’s Television Network Inc. (PNTI)
Duterte met with Teo after the Cabinet meeting, said Roque.
“Matapos ang Cabinet meeting kapansin-pansin na nag-one-on-one silang dalawa ng Presidente,” the presidential spokesperson said. He added however that he was not privy to what they discussed about.
“Medyo matagal din silang pribado,” said Roque, who had to leave before it ended.
“Matapos akong makaalis ng Palasyo ay pinabalik ako,” he said. “Bumalik ako pero hindi na ako umabot. Nakauwi na sa Bahay Pangarap si Presidente kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit ako pinabalik.”
Teo is being accused of conflict of interest over the advertisement deal, which she said was a government-to-government contract.
While saying that it was PNTI that placed the ads on her brothers’ show, “Kilos Pronto,” she had said that she was informed that the ads would be put on the program.
“Wala na po akong pakialam kung ilalagay nila sa kapatid ko (I’m not concerned if they put it on my brother’s program). There is no conflict of interest because at the end of the day, the contract was between PTV-4 and DOT,” Teo added.
READ: Teo denies hand in PTV 4 ad deal: It’s a gov’t to gov’t contract
Duterte has promised a clean and graft-free government and vowed to fire government officials even over a “whiff” of corruption. /cbb