Senators have commended Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo for stepping down from her post in the wake of controversies hounding her department.
“We thank Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo for her service at the Department of Tourism (DOT). It is unfortunate that her name was dragged into a controversy. I, however, commend her decision to resign and to spare the President from undue pressure,” Senator Nancy Binay said in a statement on Tuesday.
Binay, who chairs the Senate Committee on Tourism, is seeking an inquiry into the DOT’s P60-million advertising deal with the People’s Television Network Inc. (PTNI). The ad placement reportedly went to the program of Teo’s brothers on PTV-4.
“The President has too many things on his plate to be dragged into this issue, most especially solving the diplomatic gap between our country and Kuwait, where 260,000 of our countrymen depend for their livelihood,” she said.
“I also call on the President to immediately appoint her replacement, [so] as not to put the DOT’s programs and projects to a standstill, especially in light [of] the rehabilitation of Boracay Island,” the senator added.
Even opposition Senator Bam Aquino lauded Teo’s move.
“We commend Secretary Teo for resigning,” Aquino said in a press briefing at the Senate.
He stressed that if the government is serious in fighting corruption, thenTeo made the right decision. He added that he believes there was indeed an irregularity in the DOT-PTNI deal.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan, said Teo’s resignation was a “welcome development.”
“And we hope there will not be any reappointment to another post and that the necessary charges against all those involved be brought to bear,” he added.
Aquino also reiterated his call for the President to stop “recycling officials” had either resigned or had been fired after being embroiled in anomalous and corrupt activities.
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He expressed hope that the Senate would pursue its investigation of the DOT mess after despite Teo’s resignation. /ee