MANILA – After drawing negative criticism, Bitag Media Unlimited, Inc. will return the P60 million it was paid to air advertisements of the Department of Tourism.
The decision was reached after Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo met with her brothers Ben, Erwin and Raffy Tulfo – the people behind the media group – said Teo’s legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio.
“Alam ko na there were moves toward that last week pero hindi pa finalized,” Topacio told a radio interview Monday.
“It was only today that Secretary Wanda (Teo) called me and said, ‘Atty. Ferdie ito na ang napag-usapan namin na nag-family meeting na ito. Ibabalik na iyong pera.’”
“‘Kung hindi man mabawi, kasi nasweldo na iyon, nagamit na sa production, mag-aambag-ambag na lang kaming magkakapatid para hindi na lang magkaroon ng kahihiyan,’” Topacio quoted Teo as saying.
In a 2017 report the Commission on Audit flagged government-run People’s Television Network, Inc. for its payments to Bitag Media that “were not supported with proper documents, such as memorandum of agreement and certificate of performance.”
“Talagang hindi ito ilegal, pero talagang nakakahiya at hindi naging magandang repleksyon not only on the DOT but on the presidency as well,” Topacio said.
Teo herself wanted to know what went wrong, said the lawyer.
“Somewhere along the line, definitely, something went wrong,” Topacio said. “Gusto niyang malaman not only para hindi na maulit ito but to improve the system na ma-strengthen din iyong checks and balances within the DOT.”/PN
