A VERBAL tussle between the Tulfo siblings and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV ensued at the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing Tuesday, August 14, on the P60-million ad placements of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Former Tourism chief Wanda Tulfo-Teo maintained during the hearing that she was not aware of the negotiations between the DOT and government television network People’s Television Network, Incorporated (PTV4) during her watch.
“I trust all my people. Hindi ko po alam from the very start ang negosasyon na yan (I was not aware from the start about the negotiation),” Teo said.
To this, committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon said: “Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.”
Teo also said she was not aware that her brother Ben Tulfo owns Bitag Multimedia Unlimited, Incorporated, the media outfit behind Kilos Pronto program.
Kilos Pronto, where the P60-million DOT ads were placed, is co-hosted by Teo's brothers, Ben and Erwin Tulfo.
“I maintained that I have gone through proper channels. I have been defamed, maligned and crucified. But I am not really aware that Ben Tulfo, who is my brother, is with Kilos Pronto. Otherwise, I would not have signed the contract. Walang nagsabi sa akin na ang Kilos Pronto was handled by my brother Ben,” Teo clarified during the hearing.
(Nobody told me that Kilos Pronto was handled by my brother Ben.)
Erwin, for his part, said he was merely a talent receiving P150,000 per appearance.
Whether the P60 million paid by DOT through PTV4 to the Tulfo-owned media outfit will be returned, Teo said she does not think this is possible considering that expenses were already incurred by Bitag.
“I asked my brother kung pwede isauli ang pera pero nagastos na nila yung pera. Sinabi ni Atty. Topacio to make an ultimate sacrifice. Pero saan nga kukunin ang pera. At the end of the day siya (pointing
to Ben) ang masusunod,” Teo admitted.
Ben Tulfo, for his part, said he will not return the money considering that the transaction between DOT and PTV 4 and Bitag were supported by proper documents.
Gordon questioned the constitutionality of the transaction between the DOT and PTV4. He noted that the Commission on Audit (COA) questioned the issuance of three checks amounting to P60 million to Bitag Media.
To show that she was not part of the negotiations, Teo presented a letter dated February 6, 2017 in which PTV4 executives made the proposal to air the DOT’s advertisements on the Tulfo brothers’ show. The letter also indicated the duration and time slots when the tourism ads would be placed.
Ramon del Rosario, group head of programming or airtime management of PTNI, said there was no one from the Tulfo siblings who approached him.
He said it was his idea to tap Kilos Pronto as a medium to promote tourism. But he admitted that the draft of the contract came from DOT.
Trillanes, for his part, said this is clearly plunder on the part of the Tulfos. Under the law, he said government officials are prohibited from transacting with their families or immediate relatives.
“Kung mag akusa kayo ganun ganun lang. Magkadibdib kayo ngayon dahil plunder ito,” Trillanes said.
To which Erwin Tulfo answered: “Haharapin po namin yan. Hindi kami gumagawa ng kwento kwento lang. Only the court can decide if there is plunder in DOT-PTV4 transaction.”
At this juncture, Gordon banged the gavel to stop further arguments between the two. (PS Jun Sarmiento/SunStar Philippines)