The Commission on Audit (COA) has granted partly the money claim for plane tickets used by former Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Wanda C Tulfo-Teo and thee other officials in their travels to Argentina and Turkey for the 18th Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in 2018.
Instead of the P2.52 million claimed by Ark Travel Express, Inc. (ARK), COA allowed the payment of P1.58 million. The claims for interest, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, exemplary damages, and cost of suit were denied by COA.
On April 6, 2018, then secretary Teo issued travel authorities to assistant secretary Arlene V. Mancao, executive assistant III Julius C. Disamburun, and executive assistant II Angelito P. Ucol to attend the WTTC summit and provide technical assistance to meetings with the private sector and tourism stakeholders in Buenos Aires and Istanbul.
The Office of the President, through Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration Michael P. Ong, issued a travel authority on April 11, 2018 in favor of Teo and allowed her and Mancao to use business class seats during the travels.
In a letter dated June 6, 2018, ARK requested DOT to settle its outstanding collectibles in the total amount of P2,528,587.08, which remained unpaid despite several follow-ups.
Then on July 12, 2018, ARK sent a demand letter to Teo reiterating its claim and threatened to file legal action in case of non-payment. On Aug. 3, 2018 DOT's Undersecretary for Administration and Special Concerns and lawyer Reynaldo L. Ching wrote back to ARK and sought the supporting documents for the airfare transaction.
When payment was not made by DOT, ARK filed its money claim before the COA.
COA found the claim partly meritorious. It granted the claim for airfares of Teo and Mancao for P1,001,166.50 and those of Disamburun and Ucol for P579,388.16.
However, it denied the claim for Cynthia Lazo with a party of 12 for P889,399.92 and for Juan Enrico Tolentino for P58,632.50 because "this Commission did not find supporting documents or arguments establishing ARK's claim."