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Manila Bulletin devider devider DOT mum on Tulfo refusal to repay P60-M

DOT mum on Tulfo refusal to repay P60-M

Published Jul 29, 2018 03:37 pm
By Analou De Vera The Department of Tourism (DOT) refused to comment for the meantime over the statement of radio personality Ben Tulfo that he has no plans of returning the controversial P60 million that was paid to his media outfit. (MANILA BULLETIN) (MANILA BULLETIN) "As of the moment, We would like to defer our comment on the issue," an official of the department said in a text message. In his program, Tulfo maintained that the payment made by the DOT to the program (Kilos Pronto) produced by him is legitimate. "Tinarbaho namin iyon. May kontrata. Meron kaming kopya lahat, may ebidensya," Tulfo claimed. "Kung paguusapan ang P60 million, mahigit pa po ang kinita namin sa mga nakaraang taon. Kinita na po namin mahigit pa po dyan. Kung pag usapan ang P60 million wala po iyan, kapiranggot lamang po iyan. Kaya kung pag-uusapan ang daan-daang milyon na kami ay nagbabayad ng buwis partikular ako, ay nakamtan po namin sa trabaho hindi sa pangingikil," he added. Tulfo said that his conscience is clear with regards to the controversy. "Linawin po natin, malinis po ang konsensya namin. Hindi po kami nangulimbat, hindi po kami nagnanakaw ng pera sa gobyerno. Kung kami po ay binayaran, dahil may serbisyong idinulot. Ang serbisyong idinulot ay kailangan bayaran. Ganun po ka simple. Legal ba? Oo," he said. Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, lawyer of former tourism chief Wanda Tulfo-Teo, said last May that the Tulfos will return the P60 million to the DOT. The same month, Teo resigned from her post amid the controversy. Previously, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo- Puyat vowed to stop graft and corrupt practices in the DOT by reviewing all the agency's transactions, saying it is a marching order from President Duterte.
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