(Eagle News)–Several lawmakers believe Wanda Teo should still be charged over the P60-million advertisements placement controversy even if she has stepped down as Tourism Secretary.
“Hindi enough yun (resignation). Dapat kasuhan at managot sa batas kasi iyong impunity sa Duterte administration hindi nawawala eh,” Rep. Gary Alejano said.
Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV agreed.
Villarin said apart from Teo, her brothers, Erwin and Ben, of Bitag Media Unlimited that produces the program “Kilos Pronto” where the tourism advertisements were placed should be charged.
“While she professes no wrongdoing, it was very clear from the Commission on Audit report that the P60-million disbursements were not properly recorded,” he said.
According to Trillanes, Teo’s resignation “only confirms the allegations of corruption against her.”
He said the Senate should also push through with its investigation because “we must know the extent of corruption at the DoT under her watch.”
Senator Bam Aquino said that should the hearing push through, all the transactions will be scrutinized.
“..At the minimum syempre delicadeza na yung perang yun mula sa ahensya mapupunta sa mga kapatid mo, yun pa lang medyo may irregularities. Palagay ko yan ung naging rason kung bakit siya pinagbitiw o bakit siya nagbitiw sa DOT pero dun sa hearing makikita natin if it is more than that P50 million,” he said.
Teo’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio announced her resignation.
She tendered her resignation, he said, at the start of the Cabinet meeting on Monday, May 7.