By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
Seventy-five percent of the amount specified in the contract between the Department of Tourism then-led by Wanda Teo and PTV4 went to Bitag Media Unlimited Inc., the company of her brother Ben Tulfo.
This is according to Norma Aquino, supervising auditor of the Commission on Audit, who appeared before the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing the issue on Tuesday, Aug. 14.
Since BMUI received P89.87 million of the contract worth P120 million, Aquino said the MOA between DOT and PTV “showed a possible conflict of interest..”
But according to PTV4, it did not receive the entire amount the contract was worth because the DOT no longer paid them the fifth tranche after news of the controversial contract broke.
PTV President Dino Antonio Apolonio said based on documents, PTV received P95,625,000 from the DOT.
Of the amount, P75,061,000 went to Bitag, of which he said PTV only earned P19.8 million.
“During that time, ang nasa pag-iisip namin kailangan ng PTV ng revenue. We are very dependent on revenues we earn,” he said.
No ratings
But Senator Richard Gordon, panel chair, noted that Tulfo’s program was not rating.
Apolonio noted, however, that “napasama ang Kilos Pronto dahil sa format.”
“E besides putting the commercial spots of DOT, we are also producing a travel show for DOT. Kung pababayaan na mag-umpisa ang travel show baka hindi magkaroon ng traction,” he said.
Tulfo also reiterated the contract was also aboveboard and legal.
“Wala ho akong kaugnayan sa kapatid ko. Hindi ako lumapit sa kaniyang opisina,” he said.
As for Teo, she said she did not know that it was her brother who was running “Kilos Pronto.”
She said “all I know is his Bitag.”
To which Gordon replied: “Hindi niyo alam na may programa ang kapatid niyo na Kilos Pronto?”
“Hindi po. Wala po kasi akong time manood,” Teo replied.
But according to Apolonio, the initial contract came from the DOT itself, contrary to Teo’s allegations it came from PTV.
Senators not convinced
Senators were not convinced there was no conspiracy.
“Sa tingin ko may liability. Tama ang sinabi ng COA. May liability lahat ng sinabi ng COA…Liability on the part of Tulfo, PTV4, all the other people pero it goes down as it goes down,” Gordon said.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV agreed.
“Sabi mo hindi mo alam na napunta sa mga kapatid mo, subukan mo yang gamitin sa Korte. Humanap na kayo ng ibang legal defense. Swak na swak, pasok na pasok kayo sa Bitag,” Trillanes said.
The panel is slated to summon actor Cesar Montano, former head of the Tourism Promotions Board so he can explain the allegedly anomalous Buhay Carinderia campaign worth P80 million.